The number of buses and coaches using Carlisle roads has fallen by more than a tenth over the last nine years, new figures show.

It comes as fewer buses were licensed across the UK at the end of last year than in any year since 2014.

The RAC said the fall is "disappointing", while the Campaign for Better Transport urged the Government to work with local authorities and bus operators to expand and improve bus services.

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Department for Transport figures show 506 buses and coaches were licenced in Carlisle at the end of 2023.

This was broadly in line with the year before, but represented a fall of 15 per cent since 2014, when there were 595.

Some 141,300 buses and coaches were registered across the UK at the end of last year, a 16 per cent decline from nine years prior.