People living in rural areas feel “let down” by the Scottish Government as poor bus provision leaves them stranded or too reliant on cars to travel, new research has revealed.

A report by the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) also found people felt ministers were not doing enough to ensure they can rely on local bus services to take them where they need to go.

The study by the independent charity claimed bus miles have dropped by 27% since 2010 while car usage has continued to climb over the same period.

Residents said they felt squeezed between the ever-increasing costs of running a car and rising bus fares, and that the growing cost of living in less-populated areas is also forcing some to consider moving to urban areas.

The research also found a sense of frustration in communities around a lack of co-ordination between privately-run bus companies and local services, leading to situations where some people are having to wait up to three-quarters of an hour to catch a bus.

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