Big increases in bus fares in York have been condemned by City of York Councillors.

First York has raised its fares between the city centre and New Earswick, Haxby and Dunnington, as part of a new zoned system to make fares in the city simpler.

When rises of up to 50 per cent were announced last week, the increases were cut back after the intervention of council officers, but slimmed-down price hikes were still introduced on Sunday.

Coun Ann Reid (Lib Dem) condemned the increases at last night's full meeting of the City of York Council.

She asked Coun Dave Merrett, executive member for planning and transport, to suspend moves towards setting up a "quality partnership approach" with the company until acceptable consultation arrangements had been made.

Coun Merrett said: "It goes without saying that the initial proposals from First York were not acceptable. There were some massive percentage increases.

"I think the way we as a council learned of these increases with three days' notice was completely unacceptable. It was not in the spirit of discussions we'd been having in setting up the partnership. We were very disappointed and very strong words have been passed to the company about that. First York have done themselves no favours."

He said there were two main reasons given by the company for the increases - higher fuel costs and increases in labour costs.

"We have in other areas been making reasonable progress. We have to keep trying to improve bus services in York. Quality partnership approaches are the only way we can do that at the moment," Coun Merrett added.