A study carried out by insurance company Direct Line has found some of the most common - and the most bizarre - reasons people avoid using public transport.

Overall, 14 per cent of the 2,002 respondents said they never used public transport, with a further 18 per cent only using it once or twice in a year.

The most common reason for avoiding public transport is concerns about hygiene, with 11 per cent saying it was why they did not use it.

However, some respondents said they simply disliked sharing space with other travellers.

This is also a worry for those who do use public transport, agreed 37 per cent. However, hygiene comes second to their biggest concern, which is overcrowding (53 per cent).

Direct Line’s motor insurance director Gus Park said: "While Britain does have its share of bus and train snobs, there are large numbers of people who refuse to use public transport because they consider it overcrowded."