EAST Lancashire people are among those leading the way in cutting down car use and pollution by getting the bus instead.

'On The Move', a report from the Confederation of Passenger Transport UK has highlighted the area as one of the country's main hotspots for growth in bus services, with a ten per cent rise in passenger numbers.

The area network is chiefly operated by Blazefield, who are responsible for Lancashire United and Stagecoach, and the company is delighted with the findings which sees East Lancashire in seventh place out of the fifteen fastest growing UK bus networks.

Giles Fearnley, of Blazefield, said: "Buses are the unsung heroes of the national transport infrastructure and we're delighted that our customers are using these services more than ever before."

Spokesman for the industry body Simon Posner said: "The increasing popularity of routes such as these show that buses are making a huge resurgence across the country. At local level buses can make a real difference to the quality of life enjoyed by the community."