January 4, 2001 12:57: PUBLIC transport users have welcomed the announcement by Transport for London that bus fares are to be frozen and night bus services into Bromley borough extended.

The daytime 70p fares will be frozen for 2001 and the N47 route, which runs from Victoria to Orpington, is to run every 30 minutes from January 20 instead of every hour.

The cost of childrens one-day, family and weekend travelcards will remain the same, with adult travelcard season tickets rising in line with inflation.

Most Connex train fares to Bromley will also stay the same, with some reductions on the prices of season tickets.

The announcement is in line with the TfL bus passengers charter, which aims to have a bus within five minutes walk of all homes and workplaces.

Spokesman for Transport for London, Mark Chapman said: "We froze the fares because of the need to get more people onto public transport.

"Its the first step to a single bus fare for the whole of London which is Mayor Ken Livingstones aim."

He added: "We want London to have a 24-hour bus service. Twenty nine million more people travelled by bus in London last year compared with 1999."

Karl Gurney, secretary of Orpington District Travellers Association said: "The announcement is good news for public transport users. Were also delighted because we have been pressing for a more regular night bus service."

He added: "It would be a cheek to put up rail fares with the awful service we have been getting recently and we still mourn the loss of the short-hop bus fare of 60p, abolished last year."