A new 24-hour bus service is starting in London ahead of the introduction of congestion charging next year.

The 148/148N route will begin running on Saturday, and is one of six new routes London Mayor Ken Livingstone hopes will boost public transport.

Improvements are also being made to more than 50 bus services which will increase capacity by 11,000 during peak times.

Mr Livingstone said: "This new route is part of the biggest package to boost buses into central London for more than 50 years."

Enforcement team

The new 148 route will run between Shepherd's Bush, Notting Hill Gate, Bayswater Road, Marble Arch, Hyde Park Corner, Victoria, Westminster, Elephant and Castle, Walworth Road and Camberwell.

It will run approximately every 10 minutes during peak times, and during the day at weekends, with a regular service at night.

Motorists face paying a �5 congestion charge to enter central London streets from February 2003.

Last month Mr Livingstone said drivers who miss three payments will have their cars clamped and face a bill of more than �500 to get them back.

A 60-strong team is being employed to enforce this rule.