BUS bosses who caused outrage when they hiked the price of York city centre fares are to consider raising the age young people can travel for half price to 18.

Coun Ann Reid, City of York Council's transport boss, told a full meeting of the authority that First had also agreed to reintroduce the family ticket.

Councillors last night debated the company's inflation busting fare increases, which were first revealed by the Evening Press last month and were imposed at the beginning of the year.

Children were particularly hit by the rises, with some tickets rising as much as 50 and 66 per cent.

Coun Reid told councillors she had already had a "constructive" meeting with First to "raise our concerns", which she feared could have an impact on encouraging the "bus habit" early in life.

"I am pleased to be able to tell council that we have reached agreement with them and they will be reintroducing the family ticket," she said.

"They will also seriously investigate increasing the age where young people can travel for half fare to 18. Although we are delighted that they have agreed to implement these improvements, we will continue to meet with them to see what other initiatives might be achievable."

Coun Tracey Simpson-Laing, Labour transport spokeswoman, proposing a cross-party meeting of councillors with First to discuss the issue, told councillors the bus company needed to realised "the consequences this price rise has caused".

"(We must) gain assurances from them that the bus users of this city will not suffer similar rises again, particularly in the next 12 months," she said.

"We must be seen to work together over this issue so we, as councillors, can be seen to be listening to York residents."

She said, for parents on low incomes, the increases in children's fares were "a cost too far" and could lead to parents reverting to the car.

Coun Andy D'Agorne, Green leader, called for the council to support a Quality Bus Contract which, he said, could mean council could intervene when fare rises were imposed in future years, but his motion was referred to the executive for consideration.

Councillors voted to accept Coun Reid's amended motion, which noted the preliminary meetings held with First and attacked the Government for its failure to reform the deregulation of bus services legislation.

Updated: 09:30 Wednesday, January 25, 2006