Bus passengers still reeling from service cuts are now being hit with a price hike.

Most adult single and child return fares will increase by 50p from today across the First bus network in Dorset.

The firm says a "challenging economic environment" has forced it to act.

But there is anger locally at the increase.

Just this week First introduced its winter timetable and with it a range of savage cuts to services.

This includes withdrawing Sunday services from service 3 (Westham) and service 8 (Chickerell). Buses on these routes have reduced to every 30 minutes Monday-Saturday ending earlier.

Service 4 (Preston) has also lost its Sunday service and Sunday services from Dorchester to Bridport (X51) and Weymouth to Bridport (X53) have also been withdrawn.

Bus campaigner Jackie Isbell described the fare increase as "unfair", coming on the back of a reduction in services.

Mrs Isbell who sits on a local bus panel and runs a passenger forum group on Facebook, said that passengers were "fuming" over the increase.

Transport spokesman for Weymouth and Portland Borough Council Colin Huckle said he had met with a manager from First a few months ago and learnt of the poor financial position affecting the local operation.

"They have detected a decrease in the number of journeys and also they are not being fully funded for the concessionary fares scheme." he said.

Cllr Huckle added: "They are trading in difficult times and whether this increase in fares will be productive is another matter.

"It is regrettable."

Cllr James Farquharson, whose Preston ward has been affected bus cuts, said: "First is free to set fares where it feels that’ll make services viable.

"However, simply putting up fares ignores what passengers will do and I wouldn’t be at all surprised if they start using buses even less.

"For the sake of itself and for passengers, some of whom will be stuck without a service, I’d urge First to look again at this rise. It seems too much.”

First says the increase will not affect school services and buses from Bridport to Beaminster/Yeovil.

There are no changes to adult return fares, child single tickets or weekly and monthly tickets.

A company spokesman said: “We appreciate nobody likes their fares increasing and we’ve held these specific prices for several years.

"Regrettably, the economic environment that we operate in is a challenging one as business rates and utilities, among other elements, continue to rise.

"We can no longer absorb those costs and must pass some of them on to our customers."

The firm said it still believes the service represents good value for money. The spokesman said: "Passengers can still make excellent savings with our weekly and monthly tickets. Furthermore for those travelling in Weymouth, the pack of 10 single tickets, only available on mTickets, works out at £1.50 per trip and is among the cheapest in the country.”

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