National Express has announced that it is suspending its entire national network of coach services from midnight on Sunday.

The firm said tighter Covid restrictions and falling passenger numbers had prompted the decision.

It added that it hoped to restart services in March.

BBC News - National Express to suspend all serviceshttps://t.co/8y5KIbyWcF

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All customers whose travel has been cancelled will be contacted and offered a free amendment or full refund, the company said.

All journeys before Monday 11 January will be completed to ensure any passengers making essential journeys are not stranded.

Chris Hardy, managing director of National Express UK Coach, said: "We have been providing an important service for essential travel needs. However, with tighter restrictions and passenger numbers falling, it is no longer appropriate to do this.

He added that as the vaccination programme was rolled out and government guidance changed, the company would regularly review when services could restart.

"We plan to be back on the road as soon as the time is right and have put a provisional restart date of Monday 1 March in place," he said.

National Express first suspended coach services during the coronavirus crisis in April, then restarted in July.

Services have been operating at half capacity, with strict cleaning and Covid protocols. As the tier structure came into operation, demand for services reduced.

As with the previous suspension, employees will be furloughed.

Firms that transport passengers, including coach, rail and aviation businesses, have been under intense pressure during the coronavirus crisis.

On Thursday, Ryanair announced that it would make big cuts to its flight schedule from 21 January, with few, if any flights to or from the UK or Ireland until "draconian travel restrictions are removed".

Train services are expected to be reduced in lockdown, with some in the industry anticipating reductions of between 50% and 60% compared with normal service.

In the first national lockdown in England, services were reduced to almost half.