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Thousands now qualify for free bus travel under new plans

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The Department for Transport has announced a new £3 million funding boost to help local areas take control of their bus networks, with councils already rolling out free travel schemes, £1 fares and brand new routes.

The changes are part of a wider “bus revolution” aimed at cutting costs for passengers and improving access, especially in rural and lower-income areas where transport options have been limited.

Six mayoral authorities including Liverpool City Region Combined Authority and West Midlands Combined Authority will benefit from the latest funding as they move towards a franchised system, similar to Bee Network.

Where free and cheaper bus travel is already happening

Local authorities are already using government funding to introduce eye-catching fare cuts and free travel schemes:

  • In Barnsley, under-18s can travel completely free for two years, removing the cost of school and college journeys
  • In the North East, fares for under-21s have been cut to as little as £1
  • In Liverpool, the £2 fare cap remains in place alongside new express routes
  • In parts of England, children’s fares have been frozen at £1 until 2029

At the same time, new routes are reconnecting areas that previously had no bus services at all. In Norfolk, a new link between Great Yarmouth, Caister and Norwich is connecting rural communities to jobs and education for the first time.

What the changes mean for passengers

Ministers say the investment is already delivering cheaper, more frequent and better connected services, with more improvements expected as local leaders gain greater control over routes and pricing.

Roads and Buses Minister Simon Lightwood said: “It is an incredibly exciting time for buses at the moment with record government funding supporting new services, including to rural communities and discounted ticket offers.”

He added: “Our £3 million funding boost will help mayors take a step closer to franchising, allowing local leaders to take control of their buses to deliver for the thousands of people who rely on bus travel.”

Transport groups say the reforms could transform everyday travel, making buses more accessible and affordable for millions.

The 6 authorities benefitting from today’s (13 April 2026) tranche of £3 million funding package are:

  • Liverpool City Region Combined Authority
  • North East Combined Authority
  • West Yorkshire Combined Authority
  • South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority
  • West Midlands Combined Authority
  • Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority

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Urban Transport Group director Jason Prince said: “Buses are the backbone of our public transport system… local areas are investing in bus services like never before.”

And Bus Users UK chief executive Lydia Horbury added: “Buses are a lifeline for millions… this investment is a positive step toward creating a more integrated and affordable transport system.”

With more than £3 billion committed to bus funding between 2026 and 2029, officials say further fare cuts, free travel schemes and new routes are likely to follow.





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Crime & Safety

Oxford – Faces of three jailed for drug operation revealed

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Daniel Kaveh, 24, Justin Hughes, 25 and Kailan Chadbone, 20, were each sentenced to years in jail at Oxford Crown Court on Friday, May 29 for supplying and dealing drugs on the streets of Oxford.

Kaveh, of Lambourn Road in Oxford, and Hughes, of Woodperry Road, played ‘significant’ roles in an ‘open line’ class A drugs operation in Blackbird Leys between November 2024 and last November, the court heard.

READ MORE: Woman, 28, ‘beat up’ boy, 14, outside BP petrol station

Kaveh was previously in court in 2021 after pulling out a ‘Rambo’ knife in a stabbing incident in Lambourn Road in Rose Hill in November 2020 which resulted in a 12 month jail sentence suspended for two years.

Daniel Kaveh mugshotDaniel Kaveh, 24, jailed for seven years and six months (Image: Thames Valley Police)

Between them, they supplied around 4.6kg of crack cocaine and heroin to the drugs line.

Police raids on Hughes’ home also found 232g powder cocaine and 2.338kg of cannabis, for which he was sentenced for possession with intent to supply, along with a quantity of cash, drugs paraphernalia and weapons.

Justin Hughes mugshotJustin Hughes, 25, jailed for six years and nine months (Image: Thames Valley Police)

Raids on Kaveh’s property found similar equipment and drugs like heroin and diamorphine, with a total street value of more than £100,000.

It was established the two dealers worked for Emman Riasat, who ran his own drug line in Oxford and wholesale supplied drugs to the line operating out of Blackbird Leys.

Hughes received a jail sentence of six years and nine months for two counts of class A drug supply and two counts of possession, while Kaveh was jailed for seven years and six months for two counts of class A drug supply.

READ MORE: Oxfordshire canal footpath closed due to fallen tree

Kailan Chadbone mugshotKailan Chadbone, 20, jailed for 45 months for drugs running (Image: Thames Valley Police)

Also working for Riasat was Chadbone, of Bernwood Road, who worked lower down in the operation as a drugs runner.

He pleaded guilty to being concerned in the supply of crack cocaine and diamorphine between August 1 and November 19, 2025, committed while he was serving a suspended sentence for affray.

Chadbone received a total of 45 months in jail for two counts of drug supply and the breach of a previous suspended sentence.





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Free Bicester Sundays in the Park returns to Garth Park

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‘Sundays in the Park’ took place in Garth Park on May 31, thanks to a collaboration between Bicester Town Council and Bicester Live.

Visitors enjoyed performances from Ukesnaile, Bicester Concert Band, and Malish, offering a variety of covers from pop to garage.

Food was provided by Garth Park Kitchen, with options like British bockwurst, halloumi buns, and wood-fired cheeseburgers, while others brought their own picnics to enjoy in the sunshine.

The council’s events team said: “We can’t wait to welcome you all for an afternoon of live music, great food, and community fun in the beautiful surroundings of Garth Park.”

The next ‘Sundays in the Park’ event will be held on June 14, featuring Hook Norton Brass Band and local soloists, starting at 12.30pm.





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Oxfordshire group protest following murder with Laurence Fox

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In a Facebook post on ‘Raise the Colours: Oxfordshire’, the principal leader of the group asked campaigners to join the demonstration for ‘justice for Henry Nowak’.

The protest follows days of demonstration outside the police station following the murder of University of Southampton student Henry Nowak.

Protesters hurled bins, chairs and bricks at police as hundreds gathered outside the station.

READ MORE: Nationalist group to protest after murder of student

Screen grab taken from PA Video of police and protestors clashing in Southampton during a protest following the death of Henry Nowak. Vickrum Digwa was jailed at Southampton Crown Court for life with a minimum term of 21 years for the murder of 18-year-old student Henry Nowak. Digwa stabbed Henry to death with a Sikh kirpan ceremonial knife five times in the incident in Belmont Road, Southampton, on December 3 2025. Picture date: Tuesday June 2, 2026. PA Photo. Photo credit should read: Jamie Lashmar/PA WireScreen grab taken from a video of police and protestors clashing in Southampton during a protest following the death of Henry Nowak. (Image: Jamie Lashmar/PA Wire)

Activist Tommy Robinson and former actor Laurence Fox were among those who spoke to the crowd.

Speaking to the crowd Robinson said: “I heard someone say this wasn’t about race, this is about race.

“A white boy who done nothing was handcuffed, a murderer in possession of a knife who stabbed someone five times isn’t.”

Demonstrators were heard chanting “Henry, Henry” as large group moved across town and threw object at police in riot gear.

The controversy surrounding the murder of Mr Nowak centres on the initial police response after the 18-year-old student was stabbed in Southampton in December 2025.

Screen grab taken from PA Video of police and protestors clashing in Southampton during a protest following the death of Henry Nowak. Vickrum Digwa was jailed at Southampton Crown Court for life with a minimum term of 21 years for the murder of 18-year-old student Henry Nowak. Digwa stabbed Henry to death with a Sikh kirpan ceremonial knife five times in the incident in Belmont Road, Southampton, on December 3 2025. Picture date: Tuesday June 2, 2026. PA Photo. Photo credit should read: Jamie Lashmar/PA WireScreen grab taken from a video of police and protestors clashing in Southampton during a protest following the death of Henry Nowak. (Image: Jamie Lashmar)

A trial heard that officers arriving at the scene were allegedly misled by the killer, Vickrum Digwa, 23, who claimed he had been the victim of a racist assault.

Police initially placed Mr Nowak in handcuffs.

In camera footage Nowak can be heard telling officers that he had been stabbed, with an officer on the scene replying “don’t think you have mate”.

Hampshire police’s Deputy Chief Constable Robert France said that within three minutes of interacting with Nowak they were starting to perform CPR.

He added that: “This is a complete tragedy and I am sorry that they couldn’t save Henry that night and I’m sorry that Henry was handcuffed and arrested as he lost consciousness.”

Screen grab taken from PA Video of police and protestors clashing in Southampton during a protest following the death of Henry Nowak. Vickrum Digwa was jailed at Southampton Crown Court for life with a minimum term of 21 years for the murder of 18-year-old student Henry Nowak. Digwa stabbed Henry to death with a Sikh kirpan ceremonial knife five times in the incident in Belmont Road, Southampton, on December 3 2025. Picture date: Tuesday June 2, 2026. PA Photo. Photo credit should read: Jamie Lashmar/PA WireScreen grab taken from a video of police and protestors clashing in Southampton during a protest following the death of Henry Nowak. (Image: Jamie Lashmar/PA Wire)

In a statement to the press outside Southampton Crown Court after Digwa was sentenced, Mark Nowak, Henry’s father, said: “We are calling on the Government to treat knife crime as the national emergency that it is.

“Henry did not die with dignity. He did not die with the care he deserved. He lost consciousness before anyone believed him.”

A group of Oxford ‘patriots’ are due to protest in Oxford this week as well.

Aiden Noble, organiser of the protests, is calling on the public to stand in ‘justice for Henry Nowak’ on Friday, June 5.

The group will gather at 6pm outside Carfax Tower to ‘demand answers, accountability, and justice for Henry Nowak’.

The protests join other demonstrations in Southampton, Birmingham, Nottingham, Blackpool, Liverpool, London, and Gloucester.

Vickrum Digwa was sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum of 21 years served on Monday for the murder of 18-year-old Mr Nowak in Southampton.





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