The Welsh Government will nationalise its Wales and Borders rail franchise after a significant drop in passenger numbers, the country's transport minister has said.

The franchise, which includes the route from Hereford south to Cardiff and north to Shrewsbury and Manchester, has seen an "extremely challenging" few months due to the coronavirus pandemic, minister Ken Skates said.

People in Wales have been told to work from home since March, whereas in England there was a period when the UK Government was asking people to return to offices.

Mr Skates said bringing the franchise under public control would help secure the future of passenger services in Wales, protect jobs and ensure the country's South Wales Metro project went ahead.

Private firm KeolisAmey has run day-to-day rail services in Wales for just two years after taking it over from Arriva Trains Wales.

Mr Skates said: "The last few months have been extremely challenging for public transport in Wales and across the UK. Covid has significantly impacted passenger revenues and the Welsh Government has had to step in with significant support to stabilise the network and keep it running.

"We have decided to transfer of day-to-day rail services to a new publicly-owned subsidiary of Transport for Wales".

He added: "In Wales we continue a partnership approach between TfW and KeolisAmey as we work together to protect services for the Welsh public, safeguard jobs and secure the important Metro projects we have been working so hard on over the last few years."

Wales is set to go back into lockdown tomorrow (Friday) as the Welsh Government look to curb rising coronavirus infections.

The firebreak lockdown will start at 6pm and run for 17 days. Pubs, restaurants and non-essential retail shops will close and people told to stay at home.