Region's bus fares to be capped at £2.50

Bus routes across Northumberland, Tyne and Wear, and County Durham will be subsidised

Bus fares across large parts of the region will be capped at £2.50 from January.

The cost of a single journey on a bus in Northumberland, Tyne and Wear, and County Durham will be capped at 50p cheaper than the national rate, when the fare cap for adults jumps from £2 to £3.

Leaders in other areas including Greater Manchester and West Yorkshire have announced the current £2 cap will continue for at least part of next year.

North East Mayor Kim McGuinness has instead committed to maintaining a £1 ticket offer for bus users aged 21 and under.

The fare cap will be subsidised by the North East Combined Authority (NECA) from January until December 2025.

Adult single bus fares are expected to range from £1.90 to £2.50.

Commercial operators will decide their own prices for shorter journeys that fall below the cap, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said.

McGuinness previously committed to extending the £1 fare cap for people aged 21 and under to next year, and said she hoped to keep it in place until 2028.

Six million pounds of funding would come from the government's Bus Service Improvement Plans, which has been allocated to local transport authorities, the NECA papers said.

The Labour elected mayor said it was a "huge achievement".

"These fares will support local people, helping families across the region save money on transport costs and keep more money in their pocket," McGuinness said.