Motorists in North Yorkshire have launched a bitter attack on the Government's proposals for road tolls and taxes on company car parks.

Many said they felt they were being "penalised" for simply using their vehicles to do their jobs, and that it was not always practical to take public transport.

However, public transport users said they welcomed the proposals and were looking forward to an "improved" transport system.

Peter Todd, 54, of Acomb, York, a company director who travels around the county by car, said: "I can see the logic behind it, but do you honestly think it will work?

"My car is convenient - it's there when I need it - public transport won't fill that space, instead my company will have to pay more to use the roads."

Similarly, Sue Bolton, 25, of Fulford, York, said she would not be able to do her job - a home visitor - without her car. "I'm really concerned about the road tolls - I reckon it will get really expensive, probably a huge chunk out of my wages. I don't think the Government is being fair."

Tom Hill, 32, of Market Weighton, who travels to York most days, said: "Unless the bus system is dramatically improved, I can't see myself using public transport. If I travel to London I always catch the train, but there isn't one from Market Weighton to York, and the bus takes too long. I'm not impressed at all."

But bus user Norma Turner, 58, from Pocklington, said: "You can see that York is suffering from traffic congestion. More people should use buses and trains - I'm sure it would bring stress levels down."

Motorist organisation the AA said today that road users must be able to see that any new charges will be spent entirely on transport - and warned that "there must be no cheating by reducing existing spending". Meanwhile, members of the North Yorkshire Cyclists' Touring Club (CTC), welcomed the plans to double the number of cyclists within six years, while providing more money for cycle routes.

Club spokesman Paul Hepworth said: "The acid test will be the rate at which finances are released to local authorities."

The Moorsbus network is set to go daily. The North York Moors National Parks Authority says the increase in services is in direct response to the new White Paper.

The service will go daily from Sunday until September 2, and times will be as the current timetable. A Sunday service will also continue throughout September and October.

A new Moorslink ticket will be available allowing free travel on the Moorsbus, Esk Valley Railway and North Yorkshire Moors Steam Railway. Tickets will cost £12.50 per person or £26 for a family.

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