A new bus service in Bradford could provide a convenient service to help people get to work, the doctor's or go shopping.

Metro has put in an £631,500 bid to the Government's Urban Bus Challenge for the scheme, which is called Little Horton Community Links.

If successful the scheme would run for four years initially and an extra £136,000 in total would come from regeneration scheme Bradford Trident, Metro and Bradford City Primary Care Trust.

The aim of the new route is to provide a link between areas not currently well served by public transport.

It is also to make it easier for people living in the Little Horton ward - the most deprived in the county - to get to health care services and supermarkets, as well as employment, particularly at the Euroway Trading Estate. The service would be 'demand-responsive', so passengers could contact the driver by mobile phone and ask the bus to pick them up as near their house as possible.

Neil Holt, Metro's assistant director and transport co-ordinator, said they would buy two low-floor mini-buses which would follow a semi-fixed route, able to deviate up to half a mile from it.

"We are trying to make the service as accessible as possible," he said.

The bus would start at Bradford Interchange then travel to the Euroway estate via Little Horton Lane, Mayo Avenue and Bierley Lane.

Mr Holt said: "It's also to provide a link across Manchester Road - it's got a fantastic bus service into Bradford but people who live along it said they found it was a huge physical barrier."

Bus drivers will be drawn from a small pool, so passengers can get to know them.

Mark Fielding, communications manager for Bradford Trident, said: "Trident is very keen to support schemes which enable local residents to more easily find and maintain employment and we are very pleased to be a part of this proposal.

"There is a social effect as well - in every respect it's an important scheme."

The organisation has pledged £100,000 to the scheme and helped to plan it.

Bradford City Primary Care Trust has also pledged to give £20,000. The route goes to Horton Park Surgery on Horton Park Avenue. The health centre also houses a dental practice and community health services like speech therapy, family planning and physiotherapy.

Surgery receptionist Lillian Awde said: "I think the bus would be a great benefit. Our elderly patients say it's a long way to come."

A decision on whether the bid for Little Horton Community Links has been successful will be taken in the autumn.