Brighton and Hove Bus and Coach Company took a big gamble almost a year ago in starting a £1 flat fare system.

It could have put off many people who had been paying only 80p for short journeys in the city centre.

But the experiment, made permanent in the spring, has proved a big success, with customers up by eight per cent during the autumn.

The flat fare system is easy to understand and operate. It gets people on to buses more quickly at busy stops.

It also attracts more people on to public transport from the suburbs where fares are much cheaper than they were in the past.

Many other companies from across the UK have shown an interest in an experiment where, once again, Brighton and Hove has led the way.

Let's hope passenger numbers continue to increase so the company can stick to the pound flat fare for as long as possible.