I note that Mr Edwards in his defence of First York's fare increases (Letters, January 2) makes no mention of the high and ever-rising profits made by First Group in general and in the bus division in particular.

It seems strange that a company which has almost a total monopoly of public transport in some areas can still persuade local authorities to give it subsidies to help boost these profits and at the same time raise fares without apparently any reference to these local authorities.

Alec Acomb,

Hillcrest Avenue,

Nether Poppleton,

York.

Updated: 09:01 Thursday, January 05, 2006