There are over 100 driver vacancies

Despite this they have been warned more cuts in services could be on the way.

Nottingham City Transport has announced that the new prices will come into force from Sunday 27 July.

Bosses at the transport firm say the rises are being brought in to help them offer better wages to recruit more bus drivers.

But it has been revealed the bus regulator has warned Nottingham City Transport that staff shortages are no longer an excuse for failing to run services.

Formal warning

Nottingham City Transport has been criticised by passengers and local MPs about the reliability of services and has announced a series of cutbacks from the end of July.

Following further complaints about evening buses, the Traffic Commissioner has ruled that driver shortage is no longer an excuse for failing to run services.

It has also been revealed that the firm was issued with a formal warning earlier this year because of the problems.

Nottingham City Transport says it has over 100 driver vacancies.

The company has also announced there could even be further cutbacks if no new drivers are recruited.

Managing Director Mark Fowles said: "We monitor services and the applications for jobs in our company on a regular basis, certainly weekly.

"We will know fairly quickly if we have seen an increase as a result of the wages.

"I would imagine we would know in about four weeks whether we need to make any further cuts."