A late night bus service has been reintroduced between Sutton and Croydon following public pressure - but politicians are pressing for more.

Transport for London (TfL) has introduced three extra night bus services on the 154 route leaving from West Croydon and doing a circuit through Carshalton, Wallington and Sutton to Morden and back at 1am, 1.30am and 2am. The new services will start in November.

TfL has also agreed to increase the frequency of buses in the evenings and on Sundays immediately. Buses will now run every 15 minutes after 8pm and on Sundays compared with every 20 minutes previously. Buses will continue to run every 12 minutes the rest of the time.

John Barry, Head of Network Development for TfL, said: "London has an extensive bus network which we keep under regular review to see where we can deliver cost-effective benefits to our passengers. Our review has taken close account of suggestions from passengers, local boroughs and others and we are pleased to be able to introduce an improved service on route 154."

The late night N213 service between Sutton and Croydon was removed in 2009 but campaigners have called for it to be rein stated. Both Carshalton and Wallington MP Tom Brake and Sutton's Greater London Assembly member Steve O'Connell have called for an improved service and thousands of people signed a petition.

Mr O'Connell said: "After four years of lobbying TfL, I welcome the three additional late night bus services on route 154 from Croydon to Sutton.  These new buses will offer residents, especially women and young people, a cheap, safe and quick method to get home from shift work or a night out in Croydon, Sutton or Kingston.

"I now urge TfL to go further and work with local authorities to look at ways in which they can make this a round-the-clock 24-hour service."

Mr Brake added: "The 154 bus service from Croydon to Sutton will now operate until 2am, a change which I am sure the thousands of people who backed the campaign to re-introduce the night bus will welcome.

"But I also appreciate that this change will do nothing for those who used to use the night bus to get to or from work between 2am and 5am.

"I will continue to press Boris [Johnson, London Mayor] to operate the 154 bus service on a 24 hours basis – London is a 24 hours city and we need a 24 hour transport system."