Under-16s to ride for free on buses during holidays

Children under the age of 16 can travel for free on buses in the West of England region this summer.

- Alex Seabrook

Around 150,000 children aged five to 15 years old will be able to hop on a bus in Bath and North East Somerset, Bristol, South Gloucestershire and North Somerset without paying. The offer runs from the start of the school holidays on July 19 until September 5.

The region's leading politicians said the initiative, paid for by the West of England Combined Authority, would help children get around and visit friends, family, parks, museums and more.

The price of getting around the region can often be prohibitively high for many families, as the cost of living remains much higher than in previous years.

The summer holidays can also be an expensive time, but the Metro Mayor said there were “loads of free activities” in the area.