BUS fares are set to rise for Arriva passengers across York and North Yorkshire.

On January 2, Arriva will put up some fares in North Yorkshire, with the price of a day ticket going up from £4.70 to £5 and the price of a weekly ticket going from £19 to £20.

In addition the company, which operates buses from York to Selby and runs services to Fulford, Naburn, Cawood, Stillingfleet, Kelfield, Wistow and Fulford has added 10p to some fares.

This means a 10p rise for people who currently pay £1.40, £1.60, £2, £2.20, £2.50 and £2.70 for single ticket travel. The cost of a monthly ticket will stay the same at £70.

The increase has been blamed on increased fuel and insurance costs.

Nigel Featham, managing director for Arriva Yorkshire, said: “We are committed to providing customers with cost-effective bus travel and we have managed to hold fares frozen for almost two years now. However, during that time we have experienced some big cost increases like fuel and insurance.

“In order to ensure we can continue providing our customers with the best service possible we now need to increase some fares. Even so, we have managed to keep over half of fares frozen and none of our single fares will rise by more than 10p.”

Arriva also operates a York to Wetherby service taking in Knapton, Rufforth, Long Marston, Bilton and Tockwith.

York’s biggest bus operator First has said it would do its utmost to avoid fare increases.

A spokesman said it was protected for the time being against fuel price increases by a decision earlier this year to “hedge” its fuel costs.

Michael Eggleton, marketing manager for Coastliner which operates services between York and Leeds has said it had no plans to increase fares.

Bob Rackley, commercial manager for East Yorkshire Motor Services, said the company has no plans to raise fares in the New Year, but because of high petrol prices, they are keeping the situation under review.

The increase in fuel prices is partly caused by a rise in the cost of crude oil to $90 a barrel.