The Department for Transport (DfT) will provide £78.5 million in funding for sustainable schemes.

Announced today (December 23rd), the backing comes as part of DfT's Local Sustainable Transport Fund (LSTF).

Local transport authorities outside of London are all eligible for up to £1 million, with a focus on schemes that offer integrated transport options. It hopes this will encourage greater use of public transport, as well as bikes and walking.

LSTF was originally launched in 2011 with £560 million, which was later increased to £600 million in 2012. To date, DfT has awarded at least 96 funding packages to 77 authorities for schemes running between 2011 and 2015.

Minister for transport Baroness Kramer said: "Earlier successful schemes addressed a variety of sustainable transport measures and we saw significant changes in the way people travelled as a result."

She will invite bodies to develop their proposals in the new year, when DfT will publish additional information on the application process.

Additionally, this pot will support Bikeability training, which encourages cycling among children.