COMMUTERS will have to dig a little deeper into their pockets from this weekend after a York bus company announced it was putting its prices up.

Fares at First will increase by 10p for an adult single and 20p for a return. The price of the company's First Day unlimited travel ticket will also rise from £2.30 to £2.50.

Youngsters will also be hit by the fare review. A child single ticket will rise by 10p and the First Day ticket will increase by 20p.

First, which is based in James Street, said it had raised its ticket prices to cover increased operation costs brought about, in part, by "significant increases in fuel prices".

The company said its York operations used more than 3.4 million litres of diesel a year. It said the increase in the cost of fuel was a global issue affecting all transport operators.

The new fares will come in on Sunday. First bosses said the prices of adult weekly and monthly tickets would remain the same at £11 and £40, while a new adult return fare of £2.30 would "allow some customers to avoid having to buy a First Day if they are only making a return journey".

With the national plan to offer senior citizens free bus travel next year, fares for elderly customers residing in York remain unchanged at 25p single and 50p all day.

There is also no immediate increase in Park & Ride fares but First said these would be subject to a separate annual review later in July.

Peter Edwards, First commercial director, said: "As a commercial company we have a responsibility to make sure we cover all of our day to day costs.

"The two biggest costs are staff wages and fuel for our buses. We try hard to absorb any increases in costs ourselves and to keep our fares as low as possible and any decision to increase fares is taken only as a last resort.

"This time, it is the worldwide increase in the price of fuel that has pushed our costs to a point where, regrettably, we have had to increase some of our fares.

"However, I am pleased that we have been able to maintain the current prices for our First Week and First Month tickets as well as maintaining current prices for our elderly customers."

Coun Ann Reid, City of York Council's transport chief, said: "I would regret any price increases that First feels it has to make for commercial reasons. As a partnership, we have been phenomenally successful in getting people to leave their cars behind.

"I hope residents and commuters will still feel that, even with the price rises, bus travel offers a good and reliable alternative to the car."

Updated: 10:24 Wednesday, June 29, 2005