AT 7am this morning the gates of the long awaited Martlesham Park and Ride opened to the public – but with more of a whisper than a bang.By 7.50am just one customer was waiting to board the bus.

AT 7am this morning the gates of the long awaited Martlesham Park and Ride opened to the public – but with more of a whisper than a bang.

By 7.50am just one customer was waiting to board the bus.

The £2.8 million facility, which complements the existing London Road and Bury Road sites was officially launched with a ceremony yesterday.

But its organisers are optimistic that things will pick up.

Dawn Richardson, senior public transport marketing officer said: "It will take time for word to get around and people need to see the buses going in and out of the site.

"But Ipswich has a busy weekend coming up with the switch on of the Christmas lights which should help to encourage people to use the site."

The first ever customer to use the service was Liz Thomas, from Alderton.

She said: "I usually get the train into Ipswich from Woodbridge every day but this will be much cheaper and is only five minutes further along the road. I think it's a great idea and hope to use it every day."

Driving the first bus out of the site was James Dowd, he said: "I'm looking forward to it, I think it's a great service for Ipswich it will help to ease the traffic in the town centre and make Ipswich more accessible for everyone. I'm pleased to be doing my bit to help."

By 8.15am four people had boarded buses and a slow stream of cars was beginning to trickle in. But it looks as though it may take some time for the scheme to make its mark.