ALVECHURCH Parish councillors have pledged their support to concerned pensioners in the village who are angry at the inconsistency in bus fares.

District councillor Jean Luck said at the parish council's annual meeting last Monday she had received complaints from senior citizens who were having to pay a portion of their bus fares for every trip costing more than £1.20.

She also said bus drivers were not using a regular list of charges so pensioners were continually being charged different amounts for the same journey.

Mrs Luck asked the parish council to put its weight behind requests for a set fare scheme by writing to bus company First Midland Red (West).

She said: "I have had meetings with several pensioners in Alvechurch who are very concerned that under the new scheme, they are having to pay partially for their fares and to their horror, the bus drivers are not using a regular list of charges.

"As a result, pensioners are being charged different amounts for the same trips.

"Bromsgrove Council is writing to First Midland Red (West) and I hope Alvechurch Parish Council will pledge its support to the pensioners."

First Midland Red West's commercial manager Austin Birks said: "It would be much appreciated if people would contact us at our head office, Heron Lodge, London Road, Worcester, with individual cases, including dates, times and any other details. Then we can pursue this issue with the drivers concerned with a view to gaining some consistency."