People without valid First bus ticket to be fined £50

Passengers must be ready to show tickets or any ID associated with their travel ticket to revenue protection officers

Ticket inspectors will be travelling on board buses to check passengers have valid tickets and issue £50 fines to those who do not.

Revenue protection officers are being employed by First Bus to regularly ride across its West of England network.

The company said tickets purchased from the driver must be kept throughout the journey and tickets on the First Bus App must be valid and ready to show.

A fine can be issued for anyone without a ticket or associated ID.

On its website, the company said the revenue protection officers are there to provide support to drivers, and to deter and catch people "who abuse the system".

Tickets or passes needed will include:

• A valid printed ticket for your journey

• A valid ticket on the First Bus App

• A valid bus pass

• A concessionary bus pass

• The credit/debit card or the contactless device you used for Tap On, Tap Off journeys

• Any other valid travel document

Passengers are being advised to have tickets accessible and ready to show.