Bus users want council leaders to tackle ticket prices which have risen by 50 per cent in five years.

Fares in Brighton and Hove are believed to be the highest in the UK and are more expensive than those on London buses.

In 2000, passengers in Brighton and Hove were paying £1 per trip but are now forking out £1.50 for the same journey.

Residents and community groups say the rise will force some travellers back to their cars.

The NCP car park in Churchill Square, Brighton, costs £6 for up to six hours.

Two people splitting the fee would pay £3 for the day - only 20p more than a return bus ticket - and have the comfort of door-to-door transport.

Last year travellers faced two seven per cent price hikes in the same year.

Passengers in London can buy an Oyster Card which will allow them to travel for £1 a trip. Tourists and occasional users pay £1.50.

Tony Greenstein, of the Brighton Unemployed Workers' Centre, said: "We have had a lot of complaints that fares are too high. The rises have really hit people on low incomes."

People on Jobseeker's Allowance of about £57 per week would be paying £15 a week to go into the city to visit the job centre.

Residents on the outskirts who once benefited from a flat £1 fare say £1.50 is too much and they are stuck at home because it is too far to walk.

Janine Enefer, who works for Moulsecoomb Neighbourhood Trust which runs services for deprived families and children on the estate, said: "I do use the buses but if there's a few of us I will take the car as it's much cheaper. Many people don't have the option of owning a car so they are becoming more isolated.

"I travel on buses in other places and Brighton is not comparable."

Lizzie Enfield, of Princes Crescent, Brighton, said: "Brighton's bus service is generally excellent but the fares are the highest I have come across in the UK - so high I am increasingly using my car."

Even pensioners who get subsidised transport think fares are too high.

Claudia Burton, of Swanborough Drive, Whitehawk, said: "We try not to use the buses before 9am but I had a hospital appointment the other day and had to pay £2.80 return which for me on a pension is a lot."

Brighton and Hove city councillor Keith Taylor, Green convener, said: "£1.50 is too much. Brighton and Hove Buses needs to think very carefully whether or not it is serious in playing a part in the integrated transport scheme."

Environment chairwoman Gill Mitchell said: "The council's strategy is to try to cut the number of commuter cars coming into the city and encourage more people to use public transport so offering good value for money is vital. Brighton and Hove has a good bus service and there are prices available that really benefit the commuters."

Roger French, managing director of Brighton and Hove Bus and Coach Company, was adamant passengers were getting value for money.

He said: "The feedback I have had is that the saver ticket is fantastic value. Only 15 per cent of passengers buy the single fare, the vast majority either have a saver ticket or a longer period ticket."

He said London buses were subsidised by millions of pounds by council tax-payers and the congestion charge.

He said: "We are probably the most successful bus operation in the UK. That's not just my own observation but the industry and people locally.