Bus Vannin bought 12 new single deckers in the last financial year and has a further six on order - and is evaluating the need for five extra double deckers.

Total spending on buses will be £2.4m this year if the purchase of the 11 vehicles goes ahead - although trials of low fuel, low emissions buses have not concluded.

This figure was given in Tynwald by Infrastructure Minister Ray Harmer in a written reply to Daphne Caine (Garff) who asked about the bus replacement programme and how Bus Vannin plan to reduce emissions by 2050.

Bus Vannin has been testing a number of demonstrator buses in recent months including a Wrightbus Micro Hybrid that boasts fuel savings of up to 21% and lower carbon dioxide emissions.

Mr Harmer said his department will begin a two week trial of a hybrid bus by the end of 2019, which will indicate whether the technology is suitable for island bus services and inform future purchasing decisions.

He said Bus Vannin keeps under review advances being made towards non-diesel buses and the current supplier of buses is looking to provide a fully electric test vehicle by 2022.

Mr Harmer said: ’The department is committed to having a zero emission fleet as soon as the technology allows.’ He said since the 1990s, 97% of particulates and nitrogen oxide have been removed from the emissions.

A Freedom of Information request last year revealed Bus Vannin has spent more than £6.2m on buying new buses since 2016. This included 33 Citaro single deckers, costing between £134,490 and £169,100 each, and 19 Sprinter minibuses costing between £56,960 and £86,975 each.