The UK's largest coach operator is pledging to provide free coach passes to any athlete who wins gold at the Games in the Australian city.

In addition, the company has backed Birmingham's bid for the 2022 Commonwealth Games as it is based there.

Birmingham is currently battling against Liverpool for the right to be the English candidate for the Games, which were stripped from South African city Durban due to a lack of financial guarantees.

"With less than a year to go until the Gold Coast Games we are getting behind Team England and are delighted to offer any gold medal winning athletes a free coach pass to assist with training and competitions," said National Express managing director Chris Hardy.

"We are also fully backing the bid to bring the 2022 Games to Birmingham - the home of National Express."

Paul Blanchard, the chief executive of Commonwealth Games England (CGE), also backed the move.

"Team England will be sending over 400 athletes from the length and breadth of our nation to Australia next year," he said.

"With the backing of our partners like National Express we'll be better prepared than we've ever been before. 

"I hope a lot of our team will be receiving free coach passes when they return home as Commonwealth champions."

National Express first linked up with CGE after the 2010 Games in Indian city Delhi, with the deal including Glasgow 2014.