First bus fares set to rise in new year

Bus fares for journeys made in Bristol city are unaffected and remain the same

The cost of using many buses in Bristol and Somerset is to rise from January.

Operator First UK Bus blamed the hike on "significant increases" in its costs and said the price of some tickets would be increased by up to 70p.

A company spokeswoman said it understood this would not be welcome news for travellers.

"We have kept the increases as small as we have been able to, and where possible have frozen some of the most popular fares," she said.

"Bus fares for journeys made in Bristol city are unaffected and remain the same," the First Bus spokeswoman added.

The changes affect buses operating in and around Bath, Bridgwater, Taunton, Wells, Weston-super-Mare and those running in and out of Marlborough Street Bus Station in Bristol.

It will affect all standard single and return fares as well as many day, week, month and annual tickets.

First UK Bus is the biggest bus operator in the West.