BRITAIN'S public transport can handle just one in ten commuters when coronavirus lockdown is relaxed, Grant Shapps warned today.

The Transport Secretary said the system "cannot go back to where it left off" once the 2m social distancing rule is factored in to stop the spread of the bug.

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This "stark" fact means just one tenth of the old capacity will be able to run once the UK begins coming out of lockdown.

Mr Shapps today announced a £2billion package to “put cycling and walking at the heart of the country's transport policy” at the No10 daily briefing.

He added: "Even with public transport recovering to full service, once you take into account the two metre social distancing rule there will only be effective capacity for one in 10 passengers."

Trials on the use of e-scooters on UK roads are also due to be fast-tracked as the government looks to ease congestion on trains when commuters return to work.

Currently, the vehicles, which can reach speeds of up to 15.5mph, are banned on roads and pavements in the UK.

Mr Shapps said getting Britain moving again will be a "gradual process, not a single leap to freedom".

He added: "The world will seem quite different for some time".

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