REFUGEES who have fled the war in Ukraine will be able to ride Fife buses for free under a new scheme.

Fife Council are getting ready to introduce the initiative, which will give residents who arrived in the Kingdom under the Homes for Ukraine and 'super sponsor' routes access to transport for a period of 28 days.

This is intended to help them with initial settlement and integration and will be available to those who travelled earlier in the year.

Bus passes will also be open to people arriving under other formal resettlement schemes, such as Afghan refugees.

Jonny Tepp, Liberal Democrat group leader, had called for the scheme to be put in place earlier this year and said: "I am glad that Fife will soon offer a period of free bus travel for refugees who have settled here.

"This is a practical step we can take to support their integration into local communities.

"It is disappointing that it couldn’t be put in place sooner, but council staff have been under exceptional pressure.

"I hope that once the scheme is in place it will be a lasting part of the support that Fife offers to future refugees."

Fife Council confirmed that they are planning to launch the scheme and that details are being finalised.