Drivers top against clock

It's official: travelling by car is quicker and cheaper than using the bus, train or coach - and that's according to the Government!

A new Department for Transport online route-planner compares the cost and time of journeys across Britain by every mode of transport, and proves driving is often better. We used it to work out details for journeys to five destinations from Walsall in the West Midlands, and the car came out top every time.

If you drive, the route to Newquay, Cornwall, is two hours 20 minutes quicker - and £50 cheaper - than the seven-hour 10-minute journey by bus, train and on foot. Travel by coach and it takes 16 hours 59 minutes! The www.transportdirect.info site calculates fuel economy based on a medium-sized petrol car and also allows for tolls and congestion charging in its costing.