If you like the hopper, you'll soon have even more of the popular fast buses to hop on.

King's Lynn-based Norfolk Green, which launched its first express bus to the coast in 1996, is extending the service.

From Monday, the Coasthopper will run every 30 minutes between Lynn and Hunstanton from 9am to 5.30pm

And for the first time, it will also call at Heacham, making stops on the A149 at Broadway, in Lodge Road, and at Heacham Manor.

Norfolk Green managing director Andrew Dyer said: 'The Coasthopper has seen continued success over the last 18 years.

'The Lynn to Hunstanton end of the route carries lots of commuters and shoppers, as well as the leisure visitors that we see further up the coast.'

The Coasthopper, which runs between Lynn and Cromer, notches up around 500,000 passenger journeys each year, depending on the weather over the summer months. One of the regulars on board the green and blue buses is retired postman Tony Boardman, 69, from Princess Drive, Hunstanton, who uses it almost every day to get out and about.

'The service is frequent and nine times out of 10 it's on time,' he said.

'It will be a big improvement for Heacham, they're going to get another bus service.'

Last year, the Coasthopper was threatened by cuts in council subsidies, which almost led to the route being closed during the winter months.

But thousands of passengers signed a petition and the county council agreed to continue backing the winter service.

Tracy Jessop, Norfolk's assistant director for highways and transport, said: 'We are pleased to see that an increased demand has enabled Norfolk Green to increase the frequency of the winter Coasthopper service and to provide more services through the village of Heacham.

'The county council continues to subsidise the winter service and so any increased patronage helps to make the service more sustainable for the future.'