FREE bus travel would would help the poorest the most, Labour has said after producing analysis showing that over half of bus passengers earned less than £20,000 per year.

The party’s study of the latest Scottish transport statistics revealed that 52 per cent of people who have taken a bus journey “in the past day” had an annual income of less than £20,000.

Only 11 per cent of those who used the bus earned over £40,000.

The new flagship policy was announced at Scottish Labour conference earlier this month and the party will lead a debate on bus travel in Holyrood on Wednesday.

Scottish Labour leader Richard Leonard said: “Free bus travel for the over-60s, introduced by the last Labour government, has been one of the finest achievements of the Scottish Parliament.

“That is one reason why Labour wants to establish free bus travel for all, starting with extending the free bus pass to under-25s.”