Off the buses: number of journeys hits record low

The percentage of journeys taken by local buses is at its lowest since records began in 1950, amid funding cuts and increases in car ownership and the popularity of online shopping.

In 2016/17, 59 per cent of all journeys taken by public transport in the UK were by local bus, compared to a high of around 85 per cent in the 1960s.

The Department for Transport said the change had been driven by large increases in the numbers travelling by rail, London Underground and trams.

A reduction in services supported by local authorities, which have decreased since 2009/10, was also blamed.

There were 70 million fewer trips by bus in England in 2016/17 compared with the previous year, figures show.

The total of 4.44 billion journeys is the smallest since 2006/07.