Rural communities in the UK are feeling more isolated due to a lack of public transport.

This is according to leading transport groups who were summoned to a meeting with MPs to discuss the matter.

The committee was told that the increased centralisation of facilities and the fact that new developments appear to be designed solely with cars in mind, have contributed to people in rural communities feeling trapped in their own postcode. 

An additional factor was the growing trend of rural properties being bought as second homes, causing the withdrawal of services such as local schools, small hospitals and public transport, due to a dip in the population.

The Department for Transport has argued that it is the responsibility of local government to resolve the issue. It said: "Local authorities, operators and local communities should work in partnership to decide how best to provide access to services for residents in rural areas where commercial services are not viable."

According to one MP, there are some villages in the UK where around 50 per cent of the local community is made up of second home owners, causing the full-time residents to feel increasingly more isolated.