Bus operator Wilts & Dorset has confirmed that many fares will go up from Sunday in bid to replace the £991,000 additional tax on fuel that the company will face over the next 12 months.

The government is reducing the bus service operators grant from April 1 which will affect all bus operators.

With the price of diesel already at an all-time high, as well as other increasing operating costs, Andrew Wickham, managing director for Wilts & Dorset, said that they have made every attempt to minimise the impact of the fare increases to customers.

He said: “Adult, child and group explorer tickets will not be increased and our recently launched key smartcard prices will not change for online purchasers. We have tried to keep the increase of our short hop single and return fares between 10p to 20p and longer journeys to around 30p extra.

"The period tickets for 7, 30 and 90 day travel will see small increases but remain good value."

He said that currently there are no plans to reduce or cut services on the Wilts & Dorset network despite the impact of the tax hike and that no major job losses are anticipated.

Full fare change information can be found by visiting www.wdbus.co.uk or by calling the helpline 0845 894 2469.