Young people in the North East will now pay no more than £3 for unlimited day travel under a new "life-changing" scheme.

Available to those 21 and under in Tyne and Wear, Northumberland, and Durham, the fare, funded by the Bus Service Improvement Plan, includes bus, Tyne and Wear Metro and Shields Ferry travel.

This £3 fare enhances the earlier £1 single fare for local bus journeys, introduced in May.

Councillor Martin Gannon, Chairman of the North East Joint Transport Committee, said: "The existing £1 single fares are already making public transport more affordable for thousands of young people across the region – more than 3 million journeys have taken place so far – and this unlimited £3 day ticket is the icing on the cake.

"For many of our young residents this initiative is life-changing, making it much easier to travel sustainably and affordably to jobs, education and leisure activities throughout our region."

The ticket can be purchased from Metro ticket machines, and aims to simplify and lower transport costs for accessing education, work, and leisure in the region.

Recently St Thomas More Catholic High School in North Shields held a special assembly in recognition of the new Get round for a Pound initiative.

Michael Thompson, School Chaplain, St Thomas More Catholic High School & Sixth Form, said: “With a £3 unlimited day ticket, this will mean even more of a help for the poorest families in our community, making sure that no matter who is travelling, everybody has the same opportunity to get to the places that matter to them."