More regular and low-emission buses planned

West Northamptonshire Council said it would enhance bus services in the area

More frequent bus services and zero-emission vehicles have been promised by a council.

West Northamptonshire Council had to produce its bus service improvement plan in order to secure funding from the Department for Transport (DfT).

The Conservative-led local authority said it was a "realistic and attractive" plan for services over the next year.

Both Labour and the Liberal Democrats have also promised to boost local bus routes in the lead up to the general election.

The council - which covers the town of Northampton - said the plan sets out a "shop window" of proposals for future years, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

Phil Larratt, cabinet member for highways and transport, said the council wanted to support new and "enhanced" bus services to become financially viable in the future.

The council has also been awarded £9.4m through the government's Zero Emission Bus Regional Allocation fund to purchase 51 electric buses, operating on 11 routes in Northampton.

Labour has said it would create and save up to 1,300 vital bus routes across England.

It also said it would allow "communities to take back control of local bus services" similar to Manchester and London.

The Liberal Democrats said they would replace multiple funding streams with one integrated fund for local authorities, for expanding bus services and switching to zero-emission vehicles.