FARES on routes operated by Greater Manchester Buses North rose by an average 5pc this weekend.

The company, previously owned by worker shareholders, was sold to Aberdeen-based FirstBus last month in a £47 million deal.

Fare rises introduced on Sunday came as a shock this morning to passengers who had not seen posters displayed on buses last week.

The 98p fare from Harwood to Bolton town centre, for instance, increased by 7p to £1-05p. It went up by 3p from 95p in January to meet the Chancellor's Budget decision on diesel fuel duty.

Rodney Dickinson, director and general manager, said today the increase was "to maintain profits and help us invest in the fleet".

It was planned to replace 100 of the firm's 950 buses in the current financial year.

There were also plans to invest in improving cleaning standards and it was intended to re-paint the fleet over the next two years.

"We regard our fares as being reasonable value and we think people will be prepared to pay a little extra," Mr Dickinson said.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.