Lothian Buses cheapest single adult fare is to increase to �1

An 80p ticket, will increase by 25% from Sunday 26 March - the first rise of the company's single journey fares for two years.

Soaring fuel prices and inflation are being blamed for the price hike, which will see weekly passes rise by a �1.

Lothian Buses said it wanted to simplify its payment system for customers to a flat fare so they do not have to find change.

Neil Renilson, chief executive of Lothian Buses, said research showed many local residents and tourists perceived the different fare prices as complicated.

The flat fare will make travelling on our buses even easier, and we expect to see quicker boarding times, and faster journeys for everyone, as a result Neil Renilson Lothian Buses chief executive

He said: "In future, there will be no doubt in anyone's mind about what the fare for any particular journey is.

"This will make using our services simpler for both residents and visitors and end the confusion, especially for visitors, which used to slow buses down as drivers and passengers "debated" the fare to be paid.

"The flat fare will make travelling on our buses even easier, and we expect to see quicker boarding times, and faster journeys for everyone, as a result."

Lothian Buses saaid its diesel bill for 2005 was almost �5m, but predicted it could be �8.5m this year.

The company said that compared to city-centre parking charges and taxi fares, travel by bus remained "very good value for money".