Rail commuters are to be refunded - after an operator accidentally DOUBLED the price of a weekly bus and train ticket.

First has promised to reimburse commuters after an ‘administrative error’ led a 99% rise in the price of its weekly First Bus & Rail.

The Holmfirth and Meltham Connection ticket, valid between Holme Valley and Leeds city centre, was unintentionally increased from £24 to £47.60 during a raft of fare rises on Monday.

The fare has now been reduced to £28.80, an increase of 20%.

But before First noticed the error commuters voiced their shock and anger.

Kieran Buckley, who works as a fraud analyst in Leeds, said: “I travel from Meltham to Leeds five days a week and as of Monday it’s almost doubled.

“I don’t think it’s value for money... There’s no extra service for it.

“A bus was cancelled last night and I’m paying through the nose.

“The poster says it will save regular commuters money – it’s a total Mick take.”

Jonathan Hinchliffe, of Holmfirth, added: “Passengers were not warned in advance of this massive price hike and I fail to see how First Bus and First TransPennine Express can justify it, especially when we are being encouraged to use public transport more and more by the Government.

“What are the passengers of Holmfirth getting extra to cover this unprecedented price rise?”

Business Manager for First in Huddersfield, Garry Birmingham, said commuters who had bought the £47.60 ticket would be refunded.

Mr Birmingham said: “Unfortunately an administrative error has been identified, which significantly inflated the price increases. We are very sorry about this mistake.

“The correct new ticket prices now appear on our website.

“I would encourage any customer who has purchased a ticket at the higher price to send that to our Customer Relations team, who will reimburse the cost in full.”

He added: “We work hard to keep the cost of bus travel as low as possible for all our customers. This particular range of tickets is used by less than 100 customers a week to save them money on their journey, and we have held the price of these tickets for several years.

“Following a review, we have altered the ticket prices particularly in light of disproportionate comparisons to some rail only tickets. We have notices about the change on board our buses and on our website and social media feed too.”

For a refund, return your ticket to: First Customer Relations, Head Office, Hunslet Park, Donisthorpe Street, Leeds, LS10 1PL.