WARRINGTON South MP Helen Southworth is encouraging people to use the bus when shopping at Warrington Market.

Transport bosses have teamed up with Mrs Southworth and representatives of market traders to promote the market's bus service, which has a stop on Academy Way less than 10 metres away from a disabled access entrance.

Mrs Southworth said: "I have had lots of people saying they can't get across town with their shopping and one of the brilliant things about the market is it stocks locally produced fresh produce for people who do their weekly shop there.

"But what was astonishing was how few people using the market knew about this bus stop which is effectively the market's own bus stop.

"It is particularly convenient and has an excellent service to destinations across Warrington with no shortage of buses and it is so close for people to walk to but because people don't know about it they aren't using it."

Hazel Nasseem has been the secretary of Warrington Market Traders' Association for 26 years and believe that shoppers need educating about the bus service.

She has found that people tend to get off at the bus station and walk out of habit, struggling with their shopping because they do not realise there is a bus stop directly outside the market.

Nigel Featham, Warrington Borough Transport managing director, said there had been a big rise in people using buses to and from the town centre in the past couple of years but he wants to see commuters using more of the bus stops.

"The bus station is a very attractive facility and for a lot of people that is where they want to get on and off," he added.

"But all the stops are important and we particularly want to encourage this one at Academy Way for people coming to and from the market as it is a very short step inside.

"The market is a real part of the town centre and has been for generations so we want to encourage people to use it by having this quality and cost effective bus service."