CHILDREN are to be stopped from using cut-price tickets on York buses after 9.30pm as bus bosses look to crack down on vandalism and misuse.

Managers at First today revealed that under-16s will only be able to purchase a cheap ticket after that time if they are accompanied by an adult.

The announcement came as First announced that fares are to rise on city centre services.

The increases, which will come into effect on Sunday, April 4, will hit wallets only days after evening car park charges came into effect.

The prices of most single and return fares will increase by 5p and 10p respectively, but daily, weekly and monthly tickets will remain at the same price.

Senior citizens will be able to take any single journey within the city boundary for a flat fare of 25p, and for 50p they will be able to travel all day.

The concession will be available from 9am on weekdays and all day at weekends. For elderly people living outside York, the £1 all- day ticket will continue, but the single and return fare scale will be replaced by a 50p flat single fare, which will apply to children as well.

Peter Edwards, commercial manager, said: "We have had increased problems with vandalism and there are concerns that many young people are riding round and round on buses late at night. That is not what the ticket was designed for. The vandalism has given us significantly increased costs."

"The changes are obviously very good news for senior citizens and there are also benefits for those children currently paying up to 90p for single journeys.

Meanwhile, First Group today said its bus and rail businesses had continued to flourish as it unveiled pre-tax profits and sales in line with market expectations.

It said it was expecting pre-tax profits of about £160 million in the year to March 31, against £159.8 million last time.

Updated: 13:12 Monday, March 29, 2004