EAST Cambridgeshire bus pass holders will be able to travel free across the county from Sunday. Transport chiefs across Cambridgeshire joined forces to scrap a Government bus pass scheme and replace it after fears that some pass holders would be left out

EAST Cambridgeshire bus pass holders will be able to travel free across the county from Sunday.

Transport chiefs across Cambridgeshire joined forces to scrap a Government bus pass scheme and replace it after fears that some pass holders would be left out of pocket.

Now people aged 60 or over and those with disabilities will be able to travel free anywhere in Cambridgeshire or Peterborough after 9.30am on weekdays and all day at the weekend and bank holidays.

The new scheme also applies to park and ride and a few routes out of the county.

Leaflets explaining the new system are being distributed across the county including at council offices, roadshows, park and ride sites, on buses, libraries, over-60s' clubs, doctors surgeries, hospitals and Cambridge's Grafton Centre.

It is also on Cambridgeshire County Council's website at www.cambridgeshire.gov.uk

All councils have agreed to continue to call on the Government to implement a much fairer system when the scheme changes to a national one in 2008.

Cambridgeshire county councillor John Reynolds, cabinet member for environment and community services, said: "We are delighted that we can bring in this new scheme, which should provide free transport for around 140,000 people across the county.

"This should be a real benefit for many people who often find it hard or expensive to travel.

"We will also continue the fight for a better deal for pensioners and urge the Government to implement a much better thought-out national scheme."

Bus passes can be obtained by contacting district councils. Although in the future people may be asked to get a new photocard, at this stage pass holders do not need to renew photocards issued before April 2006.