TEENAGERS from rural areas will soon be able to vote on the internet to arrange Saturday nights out.

Youngsters aged up to 18 will have the option of four towns to visit and a bus will pick them up and take them to the one with the most votes.

The microbus scheme is being launched by the Cheshire Rural Transport Partnership to address rural public transport problems.

The bus route will be from Congleton to Macclesfield via Hulme Walfield, Marton, Siddington, Windyharbour, Lower Withington, Chelford and Monks Heath.

Youngsters can visit Macclesfield, Knutsford, Wilmslow or Alderley Edge for an evening out. Knutsford is the only town with a cinema and all but Alderley Edge have a leisure centre.

Concerns that the bus service will encourage underage drinking have been dismissed by both police, and the county council, which will co-ordinate the bus.

DCI John Davies said: "It is the responsibility of the licensees that everybody drinking in their premises is over the age of 18 and drinking lawfully. That situation in effect doesn't change.

"I know that people under the age of 18 come into the town centre on a Saturday evening anyway.

"I can understand that some people might think it would lead to underage drinking.

"Obviously experience and time will show whether that's the case."

He said parents could be reassured that their children were being transported in a supervised bus to and from the town centre.

A Cheshire County Council spokesman said research showed that young people had expressed dissatisfaction with public transport available on a Saturday night.

"A lot of them are totally dependent on their parents to take them out and collect them and taxis can be expensive," he said.

Youngsters can register for a £10 pre-payment card which will give them unlimited travel for three months. The registration form and card has to be signed by their parents or guardian.

The spokesman said: "Those who have a card will be eligible to vote on a website and asked to choose where they want to travel to, where they want to go from and when they want to come back.

"Anyone wanting to travel must have indicated their choice by 7pm on Wednesday. The votes will be counted and users will be informed by e-mail. Voting starts again at mid-day on Sunday.

"Drivers will be employed by ourselves and will be vetted by police."

The service is due to be launched next month when schools return after summer holidays.

The council spokesman said concerns about underage drinking would be a matter for parents as the council was just providing the bus service.

He said: "It's up to parents to ascertain where they are going. Their destination is a matter for them. We are simply trying to solve a transport problem."