A VALUABLE bus service for residents who struggle to use public transport will see its first price rise in almost a decade.

The popular Dial-A-Ride transport, which offers journeys around Redcar and Cleveland, has announced an increase of £3 for an annual membership.

The 465 members, who make about 1,100 journeys a week, will pay £15 a year, with a fare increase to 40p a mile for the first three miles, then 35p per mile thereafter, changing the previous flat rate of 35p a mile.

The new rates, which come into effect on April 1, reflect the fact that most journeys are under three miles and address concerns from the Redcar and Cleveland Disability Access Group that longer trips are expensive - so the portion of a journey over three miles will not have an increased mileage rate.

All members have been informed of the changes, the first increase since 1998, to help finance calculated operating costs for 2005/06 of £135,660, plus an extra £50,000 a year to operate a fourth vehicle for east Cleveland, funded by a successful Rural Bus Challenge bid for another two years.

For details of the service, call the council's public transport section on (01287) 612526.