PASSENGERS face an increase in rail fares on a popular line linking the Ribble Valley and Manchester in a move that has upset councillors.

Fares on the Clitheroe to Manchester line will rise by by 30 pence after community rail funding for the route's Sunday service was withdrawn.

Lancashire County, Blackburn with Darwen and Ribble Valley councils had been jointly funding the defecit, but have been forced to withdraw support because of pressure on cash from other sources.

In order to keep this weekend service running, Northern Rail has raised fares on the line across the week. The cheap evening return fares ticket has also been scrapped.

The changes came in to effect yesterday, but rail chiefs defended the cuts and said the retention of the Sunday service was good news.

Steve Butcher, area director for Northern Rail, said: "It is great for passengers that the Sunday service levels on the Clitheroe-Manchester line can be continued.

"Some fares will see a moderate increase to allow us to continue services, which might otherwise have been withdrawn."

Richard Watts, part-nership secretary for the Clitheroe Line Community Rail Partnership added: "It is good news for users that a solution to the future funding for the hourly, year-round Sunday service has now been found.

"The partnership has worked hard with Northern Rail to find a solution and it is thanks to the designation of the line as a Community Rail service that it has been possible to find this innovative solution.

"Without this there had been a real prospect the Sunday service would have been withdrawn in June.

"The partnership will continue to look at ways to improve the marketing of the service, especially in the off peak."

Allan Knox, Liberal Democrat councillor for Primrose in Clitheroe said: "This is sad because we want to encorage people to use trains as much as possible and to withdraw this funding is very disappointing."