Passengers in Burgess Hill have been left fuming after a bus company raised its ticket prices by 27 per cent.

Bus users saw a day ticket on the Village Rider service go up from £1.10 to £1.40.

The rise compares with a ten per cent increase last year. The price covers travel for one day around the town.

Pensioners said the increase was too much, especially as over-60s in some other parts of Sussex travel free while those in Burgess Hill pay half-fare.

Sarah Walton, 76, of West End Meadows, said: "We were warned the price was going up but it is too much. There are a lot of elderly people in Burgess Hill living on their pension, which has not gone up.

"We could do with free buses like they have in Crawley."

Jackie Cold, 63, said she used the Village Rider almost every day to do her shopping in Burgess Hill.

She said: "I need the bus to get from the town centre to my home in West End Meadows. It is a wonderful service but the price rise is very steep, especially for older people."

A spokeswoman for West Sussex County Council said: "Following rises in costs we had to raise the price of tickets. Fares in Burgess Hill were lower than in other areas of Sussex so we have brought them into line."