Public services in Northern Ireland will get a small amount of additional money as a result of the Prime Minister Andy Burnham’s decision to freeze bus fares in England.

The exact amount will not be known until the Autumn Budget but is likely to be around £10m to £15m.

As is normal Stormont ministers will not be obliged to spend the money on public transport.

The rules of devolution funding mean local ministers set their own policies and priorities.

Earlier this month Translink, Northern Ireland’s public transport company, said it would have to make cuts to services due to budget pressures.

It has launched a public consultation on the proposals which will run until the end of September.

Translink said there were “very real financial pressures facing public transport, driven by rising costs and a reduction in funding”.

Retail NI chief executive Glyn Roberts said the executive should ring-fence the funding arising from Burnham’s decision and invest it in Northern Ireland’s public transport network.

“This would help deliver more affordable fares, improve services and provide greater choice for consumers,” he added.

Roberts said affordable, accessible transport was “an investment in the future of our local economy”.