UNIONS and campaigners united today to demand Scotland’s buses are brought back into public hands as a new law making it possible comes into force.

The call comes on the day that Scottish transport authorities such as SPT in Strathclyde and HiTrans in the Highlands can start to return bus services to public control.

A franchising system used in London and Greater Manchester, with Merseyside set to follow suit, will allow regional transport authorities to set fares, standards, routes and ticketing.