FREE bus travel has had a “life-changing” impact on young people in the Wee County, according to an MSP.

Scottish Green Mid Scotland and Fife representative Mark Ruskell has hailed the transformative impact the Young Persons’ Free Bus Travel Scheme for everyone under the age of 22 in Clacks.

Figures released this month by the Scottish Government show that as of May 1, there were 5,130 Clackmannanshire cardholders under the scheme, which was secured through negotiations between the Scottish Greens and the Scottish Government.

Mr Ruskell said: “The free bus travel scheme for under 22s has been transformative, and in some cases life-changing, for young people in Clacks.

"Allowing young people to access school, work or leisure for free is helping to support them and their families through a Tory cost-of-living crisis which has hit everyone in Scotland.

"The scheme has opened up huge opportunities for young people across our communities, creating exciting new chapters and helping them to explore the country and develop crucial skills for the future.

"Transport is Scotland's largest source of carbon emissions. Encouraging people to use public transport rather than take the car is a huge boost for our environment and will reduce the number of cars on our roads.”

Scotland is the only country in the UK to offer free bus travel to all young people under the age of 22 and some 137 million journeys have been taken through the scheme to date.

The MSP is urging all who have not yet registered to visit freebus.scot for more.