AN 'UBER for buses' service will launch next week to ease the strain of commuting to work in the east of the city.

The on-demand scheme from Oxford Bus Company will go live on Monday in an attempt to reduce congestion and and improve services to the city's 'Eastern Arc'.

The scheme will cover a 12.2 square mile area, encompassing Oxford Station, Oxford Science Park, Oxford Business Park, the hospitals and Brookes University.

The PickMeUp app will allow workers, students and members of the public to order a bus to a virtual stop.

Journeys - matched to others travelling on a similar route - will cost £2.50 per ride

But it will cost an extra £2.50 if the trip could be made via an existing bus route.

Oxford Bus Company managing director, Phil Southall, said: "Local people have made it clear to us that they are open to alternatives to using their cars – but that they want more flexibility than a traditional timetabled bus service going on a set route.

"This is a new idea in transport, using the very latest mapping and co-ordination technology, and it's got the potential to be part of the solution in tackling air quality in many towns and cities."

It will operate between 6.30am and 10.30pm on Monday to Friday and between 9am and 8pm at weekends - with an expected average response time of around 10 minutes.

The app uses technology developed by Via, which operates similar schemes in New York and Chicago.