SCHOOL bus fares in Lancashire are to rise from September.

Bus operators have been told to implement the new prices on every service, although Blackburn with Darwen is not included.

County council bosses insist the decision to raise single fares by 10p will protect the future of little-used services.

Lancashire County Council pays millions of pounds in subsidies each year to bus companies in order to provide school services.

Blackburn with Darwen council, which controls its own school bus network, is not believed to be planning any increases this year.

Tim Gornall, bus services manager for the county council, said: "Bus fares for school services remained unchanged for three years.

“However we have written to all schools to give advance notice that one-way fares would increase from the start of the 2009/10 academic year.

"In general, most single fares will increase by ten pence, although season tickets and return tickets will be discounted. This reflects the rising cost of providing subsidised bus services although we have sought to minimise increases."

It will be the first year return fares have been available, and they will be priced at the cost of two trips at last year’s pricing.

John Threlfall, operations director for bus company Lancashire United, said: “The council controls the fares and they have instructed us that there’s going to be an increase. We have to apply it on their behalf.”

The new fares are: Up to three miles - £1.10 for a single fare, £2 for a return. Between three and eight miles - £1.60 for a single, £3 return.

Over eight miles - £2.10 for a single, £4 for a return.