West of England Metro Mayor Dan Norris has reacted to the news that patronage of local bus services has fallen since 13th December, describing the drop as 'concrete proof that the government needs to step up and fund buses better.' December 13th was the date the Government's latest advice to work from home where possible came into effect.

Bus operators estimate usage was at 54% of the same period in 2019; that's a fall from the 70% level reached at the start of December.

Metro Mayor Dan Norris said: "These latest figures show the drop in passenger numbers that we all feared was coming. This is concrete proof the government needs to step up to the plate and fund local bus services better. I, and local MPs cross-party, have been calling for that for some time. We know how important bus services are to local communities. Bus fare income for the bus companies is down because local people are responsibly following government advice to keep them and their communities safer. But that should come alongside extra funding to keep buses on the roads.

"The West of England Combined Authority, which I lead, is stepping in where we can to help retain bus services – but there isn't a limitless pot of money and sadly we can't help everywhere. "The government should step in and put that funding in place to save local bus services until life returns to some form of normality."