THE firm which runs York's Park&Ride services says the soaring price of petrol has forced it to increase its fares.

First's new £2 adult return will represent more than a ten per cent change in price - the first rise in the fare for two years.

First today said it would be increasing its adult return fare on all Park&Ride services from £1.80 to £2 from Sunday, September 4.

The company, which is based in James Street, maintained that all its other fares would remain unchanged - including its weekly and monthly tickets.

In early July, the firm asked customers to dig deeper into their pockets when its Metro city centre tickets went up 10p for an adult single and 20p for a return. Then, as now, fuel prices were also blamed for the rises, which also saw tickets go up in other areas of the company's operation.

Peter Edwards, First's commercial director, said the fare increase was the first for two years, and meant that prices on that particular ticket would also be locked for another 24 months.

He blamed "significant" recent increases in the price of fuel for the fare increase, but said he believed the prices still represented "excellent value" when compared to both the daily fare and the cost of car parking in York city centre.

"In spite of substantially increased labour and fuel costs, it is almost two years since Park&Ride fares were last increased, but instead of a straight increase on all fares we have made it better value for those who use the service on a regular basis," Mr Edwards said.

"Customers who take advantage of the weekly or monthly tickets can now make even bigger savings over the daily cash fares."

Mr Edwards said weekly tickets would continue to cost £7, while monthly tickets would also remain static, at £25.

Updated: 10:49 Wednesday, August 31, 2005