PARENTS are furious at rises of up to 50 per cent in their children's school bus fares.

One dad says he was shocked when his daughter's bus fare went up from £1 to £1.50 over the summer break.

And other parents have decided it's cheaper to car share than to get the bus.

Sean Meyrick said the fare on Shamrock Buses' route 66 from Castle Lane to St Peter's School had already risen from 80p to £1 earlier this year, and now the fare was £1.50.

"I think it is just ridiculous," said Mr Meyrick, a credit controller.

"Even if you forget the previous increase, it's 50 per cent from before summer to after summer."

Mum Brigitte Duffy said she was looking at paying £1.20 each way to get from Southbourne to Bournemouth School, equivalent to £2.40 a day.

"It works out at a lot of money over the term," she said.

"I'm hoping to have another child going that way next year. It's cheaper to drive. I'm car sharing with other parents."

Decision Keith Baynton, managing director of operations at Shamrock Buses, said company had taken the decision to operate the St Peter's buses on an entirely commercial basis as there was now no subsidy and diesel prices had soared.

"The fare of £1.50 compares closely with other buses. If they buy a term length pass they can reduce that fare to £1.20," he said.

Application forms for the pass are available on the company's website.

Bournemouth borough councillor Robert Lawton, cabinet member for environment and transport, said the council was unable to change or influence bus fares on commercially-run services.

"Other school bus services which receive subsidies have also been subject to an increase in fares due to the huge rises in fuel prices earlier this year," he said.

"Bus operators and councils do not have any additional funding available to cover the shortfall so the costs of travel will unfortunately increase.

"However, we have managed to keep operating all school bus routes and we have not allowed any routes to cease."