BUSES and coaches around Swindon will run on a reduced schedule from now on.

Swindon Bus Company and National Express have cut the number of journeys their vehicles will take in order to prevent the spread of coronavirus.

People should only travel if essential.

Swindon Bus Company routes 11, 12, 21, 22, 23, 25, 217 plus Marlborough area routes 20, 22, X22, 42 & 43 will operate a Monday to Friday school holiday timetable.

Routes 1, 1A, 13, 14, 15 and 16 will operate special timetables which can be found in full on swindonbus.co.uk

Routes 2, 5, 17 and 19 will operate a Sunday timetable with extra journeys for key workers.

Route 24 will be withdrawn and no longer operate.

A Swindon Bus Company spokesman said: "We are advised that we should limit cash payments, and would like to encourage as many people as possible to use contactless or our clickit2ride mobile app to pay for their bus tickets. However, we will still take cash if that is your only way to pay.

"We would like to thank all our customers for their patience during this time and commend our front-line colleagues who are all doing a fantastic job in difficult circumstances.

"If as a result of these changes, as a key worker, you are experiencing difficulties in travelling to and from work, please do contact us on 01793 428428."

These changes begin on Wednesday, while National Express' reduction in coach journeys begins today.

National Express UK coach managing director Chris Hardy said: "Latest government advice is that people should avoid travelling unless it is essential.

"We are still operating to be able to help those individuals with essential travel needs and ask all others to follow guidance and not travel unnecessarily.

"Customers should check www.nationalexpress.com for full details of changes.  "We have taken additional steps to keep anyone travelling with us safe. These include enhanced cleaning of vehicles, ticket vending machines and other customer touch points; and limiting capacity on all vehicles to a maximum of 50 per cent to help customers to socially distance.

"We are continually monitoring and will respond to ongoing updates and guidance from the government and UK public health authorities.   

"Our drivers, customer service teams, customer contact centre and the wider National Express team are working incredibly hard to keep these services running safely.

"We are doing all we can to support everyone who works in our business at this challenging time , especially our front-line staff who can't work from home; including paying company sick pay from day one.

"And we're trying to help our customers as best we can in this uncertain time by offering a free amend to re-book their travel with us again in the next 12 months or a full refund for anyone whose travel has been cancelled.

"Finally, we're already speaking to organisations about how we might be able to support where we can during these testing times.

"We will continue to update customers through our website, social media channels and email alerts."