Stagecoach revealed that its new Brookes Bus service, operated in co-operation with Oxford Brookes University, is carrying 45,000 passengers a week.

The fact was made known at the formal launch of the service at a ceremony at the university's Gipsy Lane Campus.

The university's facilities manager, Mike Newell, cut a blue and white ribbon across the entrance to one of the eight buses now operating three routes in the Stagecoach network.

The services, which are open to the public, link campuses and halls of residence at North Hinksey, Headington, Hollow Way and Wheatley with the city centre and the Cowley Retail Park.

They run half-hourly throughout the day and late at night at weekends.

Stagecoach operations director James Freeman said the success had exceeded expectations.

He added: "We are delighted with the initial take-up.

"This special network of services was commissioned by Oxford Brookes University and while it is designed to cater for the needs of students, it is available to the general public and has opened a number of new travel opportunities, for example, between Wheatley and Botley Road."

Eight new buses operating on the network are painted a distinctive blue and white and have onboard CCTV cameras.