So much for the new rules! TfL hands out 30,000 free masks as one in five bus and Tube passengers try to ride without face-covering risking a £100 fine today

Transport for London (TfL) staff today handed-out thousands of free face masks to people who attempted to use their Tube and bus services without a face covering, despite a new government law making them mandatory on all public transport across England.

The strict new law means passengers on Tubes, buses, trains and planes must wear a face covering from today – with those who refuse facing being turned away or being slapped with a £100 fine.

But despite the government rule coming into force today, TfL chiefs have revealed to MailOnline that a fifth of passengers still attempted to use its buses without a face covering.

They say around 80 to 90 per cent of passengers using its Tube services were wearing masks.

Meanwhile TfL staff are said to have handed out 30,000 masks to passengers over the last week, including thousands today, at major Tube stations across the capital.

But passengers have now been warned time is running out to comply with the new rule. TfL bosses have today warned their enforcement officers do have the power to hand out fines of up to £100 for those caught without a mask.

Although bosses of the service say staff will attempt to educate passengers at first, they say they will begin taking action at a later date.

Read more: So much for the new rules! TfL hands out 30,000 free masks as one in five bus and Tube passengers try to ride without face-covering risking a £100 fine today