A city councillor is encouraging people to write to First bus with complaints about services after being contacted by concerned members of the public.

City councillor Samir Jeraj said people have contacted him with worries about the number 17 and 18 services and he is encouraging them to write to First and also contact him if they want to be involved in a potential campaign.

The concerns arose out of the combination of part of the 17 and 18 services in January.

Pensioner Lyn Holt, who lives in the Ipswich Road area of Norwich, complained that there is no longer a direct service from Ipswich Road to Long Stratton, and, as previously reported, pensioners in South Tuckswood have also been affected by changes. She said she has been inconvenienced because she can no longer catch the number 18 service on Ipswich Road to go into the city centre.

Nic Hopkins, of Brian Avenue, was left puzzled when he took a journey from Trafford Road to Castle Meadow, and the driver issued him one ticket for Trafford Road to St Stephens Street, and another for St Stephens Street to Castle Meadow. He said previously he only needed one ticket to travel from his home to Norwich train station.

First has since apologised to Mr Hopkins and said, while the number 18 now terminates at St Stephens Street and changes to 17 to Castle Meadow, he should have only needed one ticket.

A First spokesman said: 'The 17 and 18 services have not changed since the new year.I appreciate there is now not a direct service from Ipswich Road to Long Stratton but it is only a short walk to Hall Road where you can take the service. This change follows a review of our network in the new year. We have been faced with increases in fuel duty, cuts in funding from local government.'

He added when passengers board a bus they should tell the driver their final destination, even if it involves changing buses, because the driver can give them a ticket for their entire journey.

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