Cumberland Council is among several local authorities to receive parts of an £80million funding package.

This follows lobbying from Workington MP Mark Jenkinson, who raised the issue with ministers on behalf of his constituents.

He also called on the Department for Transport for greater investment and to work with local bus operators to improve services.

Mr Jenkinson said he also encouraged Cumberland Council to make use of the subsidies for that purpose.

This £80million is part of a larger £3.5billion investment since 2020 aiming to protect and improve bus services while keeping fares low.

It also aims to, according to the government, help lower fares, improve bus reliability and punctuality while preventing service reductions,

This follows a full council meeting this week, where Mirehouse councillor Mike Hawkins said there are often no buses for his ward because of frequent last-minute cancellations.

Gosforth councillor David Moore said half of his rural communities haven’t had a bus in years.

Cumberland Council has been given £464,743 of the £80million, of which the portfolio holder for sustainable, resilient and connected places, Cllr Denise Rollo said: “The £464,000 sounds like a lot but is a pittance.

“It will cost something like £150,000 to support one route so when we've got the whole of Cumberland, it doesn't go very far.

“We are constantly pushing now, we are having our voices heard, and we are starting to see improvements.”

Mr Jenkinson, however, welcomed the funding, and said: “Investment in our bus services is something for which I have been campaigning tirelessly.

“I am pleased my pleas have been heard – and Cumberland will be among the 64 local authorities across England to benefit from this vital multi-million-pound investment.

“Bus services are a lifeline, particularly in a rural county like ours – and I will continue to push for investment on our public transport to keep businesses and people connected.”

This funding comes on top of a further £14 million announced in May from the extension of the ‘Bus Service Operators Grant’ (BSOG), taking the total to £300million into 2025.

The UK government also invested £200million to extend the bus fare cap, with single bus tickets capped at £2 outside London until the end of October and then at £2.50 until November 30, 2024.