A temporary price cut on bus fares will be extended into next year.

Brighton and Hove Bus and Coach Company announced a fare increase earlier this year and The Argus's letters page was inundated with correspondence from passengers angry about the fare rise.

Brighton and Hove bus boss Roger French agreed to a temporary cut in fares following the backlash from bus users.

The flat fare for travel in the central zone of the city fell from £1.50, or £1.70 before 9am, to £1 throughout November and December.

Mr French says the cheaper fare has attracted thousands more travellers on to the buses and the company has extended the fare cut indefinitely.

It affects single journeys between Palmeira Square and Preston Circus, and from Seven Dials to the Old Steine.

A scheme which allows parents to take up to three children carrying Bus ID cards on journeys for 20p was also introduced at the beginning of November. This has been rolled out permanently.

Mr French said: "We're really pleased with the way it's caught on and we will be extending it into 2007.

"We will be keeping it under review.

"In January and February we often see less people travelling because of the weather and the build-up to Christmas is over. We will be interested to see if lower fares counteract that."

In 2005 the company, which is part of the Go-Ahead Group, recorded pre-tax profits of £5.3million.

Mr French said thousands more journeys had been made by bus since the fair change.

He added: "This has given us the confidence to move it into the quiet time."

The company will be investing £3 million in 2007 which will see more buses on some routes.

Mr French said they have yet to decide which routes will be affected.

One passenger, Chris Cook, of Queensbury Mews, Brighton, welcomed the extension of the fare cut.

He said: "I regularly use buses in the city. Anything which saves passengers money sounds good to me."