A HOSPITAL hopper bus has become so popular travellers are being asked to remember to book to avoid disappointment.

The Harwich Hopper took more than 500 passengers from the town to the Colchester hospitals during February, the highest number since the service began in 2011.

Run by Harwich Connexions and funded by The Harwich and District Fellowship for the Sick, the 15-seater bus has two daily return journeys to Colchester, Monday to Friday, taking residents to Colchester General Hospital, The Oaks, St Helena Hospice, Essex County Hospital and the Turner Road Colchester walk-in centre.

Anyone can book a seat for £6 return. Concessionary bus passes are valid, children under five travel free and those aged five to 16 travel half price.

But organisers say some residents have been turning up to catch the bus without pre-booking and finding the bus full.

For more details or to book a seat call 01255 552010.