CONCESSIONARY fares are to rise on the Tyne and Wear Metro rail network to help counter a shortfall in takings on the Sunderland extension of the line.

Tyne and Wear Passenger Transport Authority agreed to increase the maximum concessionary fare from 30p to 50p.

The new fare, to start in January, will affect thousands of pensioners, schoolchildren, students and the disabled.

Authority members agreed to implement the rise and a range of other fare structure alterations as the most appropriate option to reduce the deficit on anticipated takings six months after the Metro extended to Sunderland.