The Government is failing to meet its target of increasing the number of people using buses instead of cars in the West Midlands.

Bus and light rail passenger numbers have actually fallen by almost ten per cent in the region over five years.

In a report published today, the National Audit Office and Audit Commission warned that local councils were failing to encourage bus use, for example by building more bus lines or creating park and ride schemes.

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The fall in the West Midlands was the second highest in the country.

But the only region where passenger numbers have increased is London, which introduced a congestion fee for cars and spent some of the money raised on subsidising buses.

The Department of Transport has set itself a target of increasing bus use in every region by 2010. Tom Brake MP, Liberal Democrat Shadow Transport Secretary, urged Transport Secretary Alistair Darling to give councils more freedom.

He said: "If Alistair Darling genuinely wishes to see people out of cars and provide a safe, reliable and affordable public transport system, then he has to provide local areas with greater flexibility and freedom over bus services."