Night buses will be running this New Year's Eve after an appeal from Oxford's licensees.

Members of the city's Pubwatch organisation held several meetings with Stagecoach bosses after a disastrous celebration on December 31 last year.

Revellers stayed away in their droves after the bus company decided to stop services before midnight because New Year's Eve fell on a Sunday and it wanted to allow drivers to celebrate the occasion.

Pub and club managers were anxious to avoid a repeat of last year's no-show, and recently persuaded Stagecoach to run a Saturday service on the big night.

The move has been welcomed by Oxford's police chief, Supt BrendanO'Dowda, who said: "It is great news. If there is no bus service you very quickly get a number of flashpoints at taxi ranks, at bus stops where people mistakenly believe there are services and at the usual refreshment wagons.

"This will clear our city and reduce the number of flashpoints. It will reduce incidents of anti-social behaviour and violence on our streets."

Services will run to Blackbird Leys, Rose Hill, Barton and Kidlington until about 3am, with no increase on the normal £2.50 single fare.

Rob Opher, owner of Thirst Lodge in Pennyfarthing Place, said: "I think it is fantastic. Last year was a bit of a disaster because there were no buses provided. It will make a huge difference - there are never enough cabs for all the people that want to go out.

Lee Simpson, deputy manager of Park End in Park End Street, said: "Last year because there were no buses, people did not want to go out and pay for taxis. Generally trade in the city centre dropped.

"This is good for everyone. People will not have to pay so much to get into town or home."

Paul Strawson, manager of Copa, in George Street, said: "Last year a lot of people had trouble getting home and were wandering round for hours."

Stagecoach services on Christ- mas Eve will stop at about 8pm, around 30 minutes later than last year.

The Oxford Bus Company will not run any special services on Christmas Eve or New Year's Eve as it does not run a late service for the rest of the year.

A spokesman for Stagecoach said: "This year we are able to run a Saturday service on most routes, which means that the issues we faced last year are no longer concerns."

WHAT'S AVAILABLE

Stagecoach will run a normal Saturday service on New Year's Eve and the early hours of New Year's Day.

People living in Blackbird Leys will be able to catch the N1 from Oxford city centre every 15 minutes until 3.15am.

Rose Hill residents and people living in Iffley Road can party until 3.10am, when the final N3 leaves Oxford. The 7C to Barton will run from Oxford city centre every 20 minutes until 3.20am and the 7A to Kidlington will run four times an hour until 3.15am.