THE misery of sky-high fuel prices is now set to hit bus travellers after one of Dorset’s major operators announced fare hikes.

Wilts and Dorset said that many fares would go up from Sunday, March 18, in a bid to offset an extra £991,000 in fuel tax that it would face over the next year.

It said the government was reducing the Bus Operators Service Grant from April 1 in a move that will affect all bus firms.

With diesel costs at an all-time high, MD Andrew Wickham said everything had been done to minimise the increases.

“Adult, child and group explorer tickets and our recently-launched key smartcard prices will not change until April 30 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 seven, 30 and 90-day travel will see small increases but remain good value”, he said.

Wilts and Dorset said there were currently no plans to reduce or cut services and that “no major job losses” were anticipated.