NORTH Herefordshire MP Ellie Chowns has called on the government to properly fund bus services in the county.

In a Commons debate this week on the forthcoming Bus Services Bill, she asked transport secretary Heidi Alexander if she recognised that rural constituencies such as hers have particular needs and added: “Funding needs to reflect the extra costs associated with rurality, as well as the demographic demands.”

She pointed out that young people, older people and those on low incomes rely on buses more than others.

“Will those factors be taken into account in the funding mechanisms for bus services?” she asked.

Ms Alexander replied: “We have taken those issues into account in our allocation of this year’s funding.”