MAJOR price hikes for school transport across all of North Yorkshire have been postponed after an outcry from parents in the rural areas.

The county council is deferring price increases for bus passes for over-16s, which had been due to be introduced in September this year.

Parents in some isolated areas said an increase in the cost of annual bus passes from £300 to £550 amounted to a tax on living in the countryside.

Now county council chiefs have announced a climbdown in proposed prices.

A spokesman said: “North Yorkshire County Council is very aware of the pressures on family budgets and the issues of school transport across our rural areas and has given these matters a great deal of thought.

“In the light of growing evidence of both the financial impact of changes introduced previously and efficiencies through reprocurement, the local authority has decided to defer consideration of further increases to post-16 transport charges, which were proposed for September 2015.”

The authority has to make huge budget savings in the coming year, but the spokesman said they wanted to be sure any changes did not put young people off education.

Any further changes will be subject to additional public consultation.