The Isle of Wight Council is to hand Isle of Wight bus operator Southern Vectis more money than last year, to offset those eligible for concessionary travel.

Southern Vectis says it is transporting about the same number of paying passengers as it did it 2019 (pre-Covid) while the number of people travelling with concessions is about 92 per cent of pre-pandemic levels, although numbers have risen compared to last year.

Up from around £4.6million in 2023, the council will pay £4,976,652 to reimburse fees for Islanders who travel for free, under concessionary fares.

The Department for Transport says operators should be 'no better or worse off' as a result of the concessionary travel scheme, including for older people and those with disabilities.

The Isle of Wight Council will pay 30p more per concessionary journey compared to 2019.

The authority is facing an overspend of £39,000 compared to what had been allocated in the budget, but says the money will be found in the budgets for its highways and transportation departments.

In previous years, council cash helped support Southern Vectis when passenger numbers slumped.

Now, figures shared by Southern Vectis with the IW Council reveal the Island is "outperforming" many other locations in terms of passenger numbers.

Meanwhile, community bus routes, including the West Wight's FYT bus, will receive a share of £30,000.

The payments were agreed at a meeting of the IW Council's cabinet, on Thursday, March 14.

The figures are indicative of the Island 'moving and getting back to work', said Cllr Ian Stephens, the authority's deputy leader.

Cllr Paul Fuller, a frequent user of public transport, said bus services are key to ensuring residents feel included.