Director Shareholding

FirstGroup plc - Notification of Directors' Interests in Shares        

With effect from June 2002, each Non-Executive Director of the Company (other
than Martyn Williams, the Non-Executive Employee Director) has elected to have
40% of his fees in the form of shares in the Company. Arrangements have been
made for these shares to be purchased on their behalf in the market on a
regular basis.

Purchases took place on 25 August 2004 in accordance with standing instructions
as follows:-

Director                               Ordinary Shares of 5 pence each
                                                                      
Martin Gilbert                                                   1,171
                                                                      
David Dunn                                                         377
                                                                      
Jim Forbes                                                         377
                                                                      
John Sievwright                                                    377

Shares were purchased at a price of 296.25 pence per share.

The revised total beneficial holdings of the directors following these
transactions are:-

Director                               Ordinary Shares of 5 pence each
                                                                      
Martin Gilbert                                                  54,796
                                                                      
David Dunn                                                      19,428
                                                                      
Jim Forbes                                                      11,428
                                                                      
John Sievwright                                                 18,928

25 August 2004