PASSENGERS have criticised operator First Bus after being hit with a 10 per cent rise in fares.

Travellers heading back to work after the Christmas and New Year break yesterday boarded buses to find the price of a weekly ticket had risen from £14 to £15.50.

The company has also increased the cost of its monthly tickets from £50 to £55.

Passengers last night criticised the price hike claiming it was not in line with recent reductions to the cost of fuel.

Preva Crossley, of the Greater Manchester Transport Committee, said: “I was very shocked when I saw the new prices. I’m quite concerned that the increase in bus fares will affect passengers. It is a very big one-off price rise.

“It seems commuters are being punished because of the vote against the congestion charge.

“We cannot see, with the oil prices coming down, why they have to raise bus fares.”

But First Bus has defended the price increases.

Managing director Andrew Scholey said: “The overall changes result in a 30p increase per day to the FirstDay ticket and 22p extra per day on the FirstWeek.

“These increases are necessary as we look to absorb rising costs to our business. This includes fuel, utilities and staff costs.

“The most significant impact on our costs in 2009 is the change in the price we pay for fuel. Like many large transport operators we do not pay the ‘pump-price’ as we set our fuel price with our suppliers in advance.

“Unfortunately, this set price will rise significantly next year and therefore impact directly on our total costs.”

He added: “We appreciate nobody likes it when prices go up, but we have worked hard to keep any increases to a minimum by introducing savings within our business to off-set cost increases.

“Despite some of these price changes, the cost of travel on a First Bus still represents great value for money at less than £2 per day.”