THE First bus company has given details of its Christmas and New Year services.

On Christmas Eve, normal Sunday services will be provided but final journey times will be between 7 and 8pm.

Full details of individual last services are available from Merseytravel, the company's website at www.firstgroup.com and First's customer services department on 08708 500868.

There will be no Chester services on Christmas Day or Boxing Day.

In Wirral, there will be no Christmas Day service. On Boxing Day, there will be a Sunday service provided from 10am onwards on routes 41, 42, 71 and 72. These will provide access to Birkenhead and Liverpool for shoppers heading for the winter sales.

Between Wednesday, December 27, and Friday, December 29, a Saturday service will operate on most routes across the region.

Merseytravel contracted services will operate a normal weekday timetable on these days.

On Saturday, December 30, a normal Saturday service will be provided.

Normal Sunday services will operate on New Year's Eve, with final services operating as Christmas Eve arrangements.

In Chester, no services will operate on New Year's Day.

In Wirral, on New Year's Day, there will be a Sunday service provided from 10am onwards on routes 41, 42, 71 and 72.

Normal services will be resumed on Tuesday, January 2.

'We've agreed our holiday service arrangements with all the partners involved and full customer information is available,' said First's commercial director, Paul De Santis.

'I urge customers to make sure they understand the effect of the reduced service arrangements on their travel plans before starting out.

'If customers have any unresolved queries, they should contact First customer services on 08708 500868.'