The number of fare-paying bus passengers has increased by up to 10% in urban areas in Norfolk, the county council has revealed.

The council’s head of passenger transport, Tracy Jessop, told Surveyor that soaring passenger figures over the past year was not just down to the national concessionary fare scheme, and rising patronage in urban areas was bucking the national trend.

She said the number of concessionary fare holders had increased by 25%, and projected an 18-20% increased in overall passenger numbers for the year.

Nonetheless, she was confident the extra costs would be covered by the Government. One coastal bus service in the county had seen a 75% increase in passenger numbers in just one year, due to both the national concessionary fare scheme and a strong increase in fare paying passengers.