The government has announced a cash boost to promote greener and faster bus travel.

Bus manufacturers have been offered up to £3 million from the Department for Transport to develop 150 low carbon vehicles.

The government has also issued new guidance aimed at making buses faster.

Drivers are to be offered advice about their responsibilities to passengers with disabilities.

The announcements come in a bus priority resource pack launched on Tuesday.

The moves comes as part of the government's target to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 60 per cent by 2050.

Road transport contributes over a fifth of all emissions, ministers have warned.

"Bus users want services to be punctual, reliable and not slowed down by other traffic," said transport minister Tony McNulty.

"The bus priority resource pack I am launching today will help local authorities implement traffic management schemes which give buses priority.

"And advice to bus drivers will help ensure buses are easily accessible to passengers with disabilities.

"As well as better services, we want buses which are cleaner and more environmentally friendly.

"That is why I am inviting the industry to come forward with proposals to manufacture, operate and evaluate demonstration fleets with funding from our greening transport programmes."