Bus and lorry numbers fall

The number of buses and lorries on the roads is continuing to fall, according to government figures.

There are now 6 per cent fewer licensed buses than in 2005 and 9 per cent fewer licensed heavy goods vehicles (HGVs) than in 2007, the Department for Transport (DfT) statistics showed.

The number of licensed HGVs at the end of 2011 was the lowest since 1999, with the DfT saying that the decreases in buses and lorries was likely to be the result of the economic downturn that began in 2008.

At the end of 2011, there were 34.2 million vehicles licensed for use on roads in Britain, of which 28.5 million were cars.