STUDENTS returning to school or college after the summer break will have to pay £10 when they apply for a Zip Oyster card.

Transport for London (TfL) says the application charge for the photocard is needed to help cover admin costs.

The cards for five to 15 year olds are valid for five years while the 16 to 18 card and the 18+ student oyster cards both last for three years.

TfL’s director of fares and ticketing Shashi Verma said: “The £10 application fee still represents fantastic value for money considering it would be recouped for many in only one school week of bus use.”

New applications for the cards can be made at any post office in London.

The fee will be introduced from September 1 “We also hope the fee will help increase the sense of responsibility that users have for their cards.”