Bristol City Council has commissioned a study looking into the feasibility of developing an underground mass transit system for the city.

A statement from the council said that the city’s road network is very crowded and there is a need to "think creatively and consider various options for a rapid transit system that works alongside other transport links to connect communities with economic areas across Bristol and the surrounding areas".

The local authority said that it has commissioned "an initial pre-feasibility study to look at a metro underground as one of the potential solutions".

"This is the very first step and will allow us to compare underground options with other transport systems. Once we have the results of this initial study we would look to working with our partner authorities and the West of England Combined Authority on a comprehensive feasibility study that will fully interrogate the scope of a metro underground", the statement said.

Quoted on the BBC news website, Bristol mayor Marvin Reese said: "We need a mass transit scheme for Bristol, we've known that for decades.

"Some of it will be over ground, some underground - it's about connecting the key communities and economic areas.

"So the airport into the city centre, through Bristol south connecting all the communities to all the employment hot spots, and out to the north fringe as well."

Source: Planning Resource