BUS passengers across Lancashire will be able to travel across the county for just £1 from the end of this month.

The new cheap fare will be part of a major shake-up which includes a discounted travel scheme for 16 to 21-year-olds .

The concessions are included in the £8.5million Bus Service Improvement Plan Phase 3 approved on Thursday by the ruling cabinet of Lancashire County Council which provides key services to 12 boroughs including Hyndburn, Ribble Valley, Burnley, Pendle and Rossendale.

The spending plan is largely financed by a £7.025m grant from the Department for Transport.

It was approved after the Enhanced Partnership Executive Board, where the council works closely with bus operators to develop improvements to services, backed the proposals in February.

The £1 Sunday Adult Single fare will be an expansion of the current £1 Evening Fare offer to cover all day Sunday. The new offer will replace the current 'Buy Saturday, Get Sunday Free' day ticket deal, also known as Weekender Ticket.

It will launch on 26 May 2024.

The plan also proposes to use £5.5m of the government grant to fund a young person discounted fare scheme, which will see16 to 21-year-olds offered a third off adult single, return and day fares purchased from the driver.

Those eligible and wishing to receive the discounted fare would need to apply for an AnyBus Young Person's pass which will need to be presented when boarding the bus.

Details of the scheme are still under discussion with operators, but it is hoped to launch later this year.

In addition to the government grant the spending plan also uses a further £1.32m is allocated on various bus service enhancements.

The spending plan also includes £995,000 saved from withdrawing the Weekender Ticket, alongside £500,000 of Bus Service Improvement Plan 2 funding allocated to fares initiatives bringing the total to £8.52m.

Cllr Rupert Swarbrick, Lancashire County Council's transport boss, said: "Lancashire residents are already taking advantage of some of the improvements we've put in place as part of our Bus Service Improvement Plan, including a reduced fares offer on many evening and weekend services and a flat £1 fare for all journeys after 7pm.

"These latest proposals build on these improvements, with a significant investment proposed to provide cheaper fares for young adults and the introduction of a flat £1 adult single fare for Sundays.

"This is on top of further enhancements to bus services, which ultimately aim to make buses more frequent, more reliable and easier to use."