BUSES are being brought under public control in Liverpool City Region in a move PM Andy Burnham hailed as “putting power in the hands of communities.”

The government pledged to provide £86.3 million of funding until 2029 and a share of a £3m pot to help mayors take control of their services.

The money will give Liverpool City Region’s combined authority more power over route planning, branding and fares as well as more frequent journeys and better connections for passengers, the Department for Transport said.

Mr Burnham said: “After four decades of deregulation, Mayor Steve Rotheram is getting back control of the Liverpool City Region’s buses, and we are backing him with the funding and powers needed to make it happen.”

Mr Rotheram said that bus deregulation had “failed communities like ours” for almost 40 years.

Franchising will start in St Helens followed by the Wirral later this year and the rest of the city region in 2027.