HUNDREDS of people have supported plans for a night bus in Southend.

A 300-signature petition was handed into Southend Council, calling for an affordable service.

The campaign was started after complaints buses stop running too early, so people had to pay for taxis or get lifts home.

Student Matthew Zarb-Cousin, 20, a Labour candidate for Thorpe ward in the local elections, started the campaign.

The petition was examined by Southend Council’s Tory cabinet.

Tory leader Nigel Holdcroft said: “Officers will continue to explore all available options when meeting with bus operators.”

Mr Zarb-Cousin also set up a group on the social networking site, Facebook, called “I want a night bus in Southend”, which has almost 1,000 members.

Anna Waite, previously the councillor responsible for transport, said the council and the police were looking into night bus at weekends, as part of a plan to achieve purple flag status for the town centre.

The purple flag shows a town centre is a safe place to enjoy a night out, but it first must be shown that crime is down, people can get home safely, and it’s a welcoming place.

Mrs Waite said: “We are looking to see how we might provide a night bus. It’s early days.”

Mr Zarb-Cousin said the service would enable people who work nights to travel home and benefit the town centre’s night-time economy.

He said he wanted the council to subsidise a private company to run the service.

Mr Zarb-Cousin added: “I would urge the council to negotiate with bus companies to provide an adequate service that runs late into the night.

“It is clear this provision would be very useful for the people of the town, more useful, even, than palm trees along the seafront.

“I suggest the administration gets its priorities in order.”