WARRINGTON'S Own Buses has welcomed news that £167 million will become available to ensure UK bus services stay running during the coronavirus pandemic.

This new government funding will protect crucial transport links across England for those unable to work from home.

Bus operators will be required to maintain up to 50 per cent of normal service levels and allow adequate social distancing space between passengers on board.

Passengers must also be kept informed about any revised operating timetables, the Department for Transport (DfT) said.

The package, which has been agreed with bus operators, will be paid over a 12-week period under the new Covid-19 Bus Services Support Grant.

Ben Wakerley, managing director of Warrington's Own Buses, said: "We are grateful to Warrington Borough Council and central government for the steps they’ve taken to support business so far and for this latest measure, which we will be quickly exploring."

Transport secretary, Grant Shapps, added: "Our buses are a lifeline for people who need to travel for work or to buy food - including our emergency services and NHS staff - and it's absolutely vital we do all we can to keep the sector running.

"This multimillion-pound investment will protect crucial local transport links across England, bolstering the sector and minimising disruption for passengers in the long term."

Graham Vidler, chief executive of the Confederation of Passenger Transport UK, welcomed the move.

He said: "This funding is designed to plug the gap between the costs of running essential routes and revenue currently being received, and will help the country through the outbreak by allowing critical journeys to continue.

Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rishi Sunak, added: "It's vital people protect our NHS by staying at home during the outbreak - but we also need to ensure that doctors, nurses and other key workers, can travel to and from their jobs.

"This funding will provide a lifeline for those on the frontline as well as those who cannot work from home."