BUS prices in York are to be the subject of a council investigation, to check if passengers are getting a fair deal on fares.

Charges in the city are to be compared with those in other, similar, places around the country.

The report was called for by members of City of York Council's city strategy panel, after considering a petition protesting against the cost of bus travel in York.

Labour councillor Tracey Simpson-Laing said bus firm First charged far more in York than in other cities, such as Leicester, Northampton and Chester.

She added: "There is now another bus company in York that gets me from town to where I live for £1 - yet First York charge £1.60.

"It's about time residents of York were not ripped off any longer. Residents are getting wise to this."

Public transport planner Terry Walker said the council could not dictate bus fares "any more than we can tell a baker what to charge for bread".

But he said they could seek to influence firms, and said they had helped bring about cheaper children's fares.

Liberal Democrat and council leader Steve Galloway said any city-by-city comparison must take account of other factors, such as frequency of service. He said if information were available nationally, on the cost-per-mile in different places, he was happy for it to be made available.

In other business, the panel rejected a petition by Chaucer Street residents to retain paving slabs in their street instead of a tar-like surface.

They also received a petition from Coun Christian Vassie on bus services in Elvington, and asked officers to explore possible improvements; initiated a full review of the city's bike parking facilities; and approved changes to parking regulations at Heworth Green.