Bus maker Alexander Dennis has enjoyed a record year for UK sales as transport companies rushed to comply with rules requiring vehicles to be accessible to disabled people.

The Falkirk-based business said while group revenue was flat at £601m in the year to the end of December, domestic sales jumped 23pc to £356m driven by the disability discrimination legislation, with 1,444 new buses sold as customers updated their fleets of double-deck buses.

Colin Robertson, chief executive, said the privately-owned company hopes to regain ground lost in London in the coming year with Mayor Sadiq Khan having said he will stop buying the New Routemaster – also known as the “Boris Bus” – produced by Northern Irish rival Wrightbus. The mayor has said the buses are too expensive to produce.