A bus company in the city has welcomed the government’s move to extend the £2 bus fare until the end of next year.

Under plans unveiled by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak at the Conservative Party conference, the government will divert money from a cancelled section of HS2 to keep the reduced fare in place until the end of December 2024.

The scheme has helped passengers travel across the county at much-reduced rates to help with the cost of travel for work, education and essential journeys.

In his speech earlier this week, the Prime Minister said: “I am cancelling the rest of the HS2 project - and in its place we will reinvest every single penny, £36 billion, in hundreds of new transport projects in the North and the Midlands and across the country.

“This means £36 billion of investment in the projects that will make a real difference across our country.

“Every region outside of London will receive the same or more government investment than they would have done under HS2 with quicker results.”

The £2 single fare covers all journeys by participating bus operators, including Brighton and Hove Buses. There is no maximum distance for journeys, but the cap only covers local buses and not inter-city coaches.

Nick Hill, commercial director of Brighton and Hove Buses and Metrobus, said: “We are pleased to hear that an extension to the £2 fare has recently been announced by the government.

“We look forward to receiving all the details about the extension to the scheme shortly.”

As part of the new £36 billion “Network North” project, Sussex will receive millions of pounds of government funding to “ensure the delivery” of four road schemes in the county.

Most of the extra funding will go towards projects along the A259, including sections between Bognor and Littlehampton, King’s Road in Brighton and the South Coast Road Corridor linking Seaford, Newhaven and Peacehaven to Brighton.

One improvement project on the A22 corridor between Hailsham and Stone Cross will also receive government funding.

The South East will also have access to a £2.8 billion fund for road resurfacing to combat potholes.