ELDERLY travellers in the Spa are calling for the return of a free town bus pass.

Droitwich Spa Older People's Forum chairman, Eve Freer, is lobbying Worcestershire County Council to reinstate the special passes for elderly and disabled residents.

The campaigner, who is also a Labour member of Droitwich Spa Town Council, wrote to the county's passenger and fleet manager Chris Pettifer, following a meeting with him in June.

The letter stated: "We believe this concession will help older people by alleviating isolation and improving people's mobility and quality of life.

"This, in turn, will reduce future demands on health and social services in the county."

Cllr Freer (West) added that there were six district councils in Worcestershire with varying concessionary fare schemes.

"This is confusing for the elderly and makes it more difficult for them to travel around the county," she explained.

The free Spa bus pass was axed when the town council failed to strike a suitable deal with First bus company in 2001.

It was replaced with a concessionary fare scheme, which allows eligible passengers to travel across the county and into Birmingham for half price.

Users can pay an additional £10 per quarter to travel for free in Droitwich.

Cllr Freer told the Advertiser: "We are requesting that Mr Pettifer works alongside county and district councillors to obtain this free travel pass for our older people."

A Worcestershire County Council spokesman said: "Although we are not responsible for concessionary fares, they are a district matter, we do review the schemes operating in each area.

"We are aware that a number of different schemes are operating and are looking at how services can be streamlined," he added.

By LISA HERITAGE AND SARAH CHAMBERS