PENSIONERS and disabled people could see the cost of bus fares kept down thanks to bargaining between Worcester City Council and First Midland Red.

The authority's executive board has unveiled proposals to let passengers entitled to concessions choose whether to have a free annual bus pass or to pay £8 and travel at a flat rate.

"This has to be ratified tonight at full council, but it'd be good news for concessionary groups if agreed," said the council leader, Robert Rowden, today.

"They'd be able to choose to purchase a pass for £8 and then pay 25p for a single journey within Worcester and 40p for a return, as at the moment.

"That should prove more attractive than a free pass and half-fares for regular users."

The move would mean the council satisfied new Government legislation, requiring district authorities to introduce free passes and half-fare prices.

If rubber-stamped, the choice of travel scheme would come into effect from June. Meanwhile, all passes have been extended until Thursday, May 31.

Pensioners in the city were crestfallen after learning last month they could end up paying more as a result of the Transport Act.

Worcester City Council decided that it should dip into its reserves after concerns that fares could rise by up to 188 per cent for some users because of the transport legislation.