A controversial on-demand bus for South Warwickshire has been hailed a "game-changer" by the council, a year after it was first launched.

The IndieGo Plus service made its first journey on Monday, 23 May 2022, replacing the former number 16 route which served Hatton Park, Hampton Magna, Warwick, Leek Wootton and Kenilworth.

Provided by Liftango and Stagecoach working with Warwickshire County Council, the bus allows residents to book a journey on their phone through a mobile app.

Over the past 12 months it has made nearly 15,000 individual journeys, carrying 22,400 passengers over 39,000 miles.

And Cllr Jan Matecki, portfolio holder for transport and highways, has hailed its success.

"We are rightly proud of the IndieGo PLUS service in Hatton and West Warwick," he said in a statement today (May 23).

"This service has proved to be truly a game changer for public transport in Warwickshire and a real demonstration of our commitment to ensuring our residents are supported through excellent transport infrastructure while creating a county that is sustainable now and for future generations.

"I hope to see as many residents as possible continuing to make the best use of the IndieGo PLUS service."

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But the service - which can be tracked in real-time on on the app - has been widely criticised.

Last year MP for Warwick and Leamington Matt Western called on the county council to scrap the plans.

"What residents want is regular, dependable and cheap services - but with the introduction of the new demand-responsive service they will not get that," he said at the time.

"I understand the conundrum for the county council because budgets for public transport are being continually cut by the government which leaves it in a difficult position.

"This is not to say, however, that the change of service was unavoidable."