From Monday, the maximum fare in the Kendal area will be just �1, anywhere on the town network.

Fares will be even lower for children and others entitled to concessions, and weekly mega-rider tickets will be cut from �8 to �5.

The experimental scheme is designed to encourage as many people as possible to use bus services in and around Kendal.

Cash for the price-cuts has come from Cumbria County Council's local committee for South Lakeland.

Chairman Alan Bobbett said: "This is a good example of the county council and its public transport team working with Stagecoach to come up with a scheme to benefit the people of the Kendal area.

"From our point of view this is money well spent. We hope that together we will help to create a virtuous circle - the more people who leave their cars at home, the better it will be for the town, the better the bus services will be and the more people will want to use them."