BUS passengers across East Yorkshire will pay up to an extra 40 pence per journey from this weekend.

The majority of services run by East Yorkshire Motor Services (EYMS), will increase by at least five pence and as much as 40p for longer journeys, with return and weekly tickets rising by similar amounts.

Peter Shipp, chairman of the company, blamed the Government’s increase on fuel tax and cuts on concessions to bus operators for the rise, and said the rise was regrettable: “We really do regret having to increase fares now but we are left with no choice, mainly because the cost of the fuel we use has gone up so much in the last few months and the government’s fuel duty increases have simply added to the burden.

“East Yorkshire buses use over six million litres of fuel a year so every penny rise in the price adds over £1,000 each week to our costs. Since last January the price has risen by 14p a litre, including the latest duty increase, so we are now faced with more than £14,000 extra costs every week.”

The company runs more than 300 buses and coaches throughout East and North Yorkshire, as well as Hull and the North York Moors, and has been running since 1926, employing nearly 800 people.

Earlier this month, Julian Smith Conservative MP for Skipton and Ripon raised the issue of cuts in funding to Parliament, after it was announced North Yorkshire County Council would receive £5 million less to provide concessionary fares for elderly people.