DIFFICULTIES experienced by bus passengers from Powick and Callow End are being addressed by Worcestershire County Council.

After complaints that some drivers would not accept return tickets bought on other buses, Powick Parish Council took the matter up with the county council.

The reason, members heard, was that three different companies operate services on these routes.

Astons and Robins are under contract to the county council and have been instructed to accept each other's tickets, as well as day returns issued by First Midland Red.

First, which is a commercial operator, is under no obligation to accept tickets from either of the other companies.

"We can't tell an independent operator to accept tickets from other companies, but there is nothing to stop them entering into agreements with each other," said the county council's principal customer services officer, Ken Radbourne.

"We have had very few complaints about this, but wherever possible we are endeavouring to ensure that tickets are interchangeable."