BUS passengers in Malvern will enjoy the benefit of initiatives aimed at improving service and boosting bus use.
Two new services offer travel to Malvern's new £3 million health centre in Townsend Way.
The number 41 and 43 buses run hourly between 7am and 7pm, Monday to Saturday, on a route incorporating Great Malvern, Malvern Link, Barnards Green and Fruitlands
The service is designed to allow patients to collect prescriptions from town centre pharmacies.
From April, over-60s will travel for free in a nationwide concession, but it excludes journeys made before 9.30am and on certain routes.
However, Worcestershire County Council is investing £310,000 to allow over-60s to travel for free without restriction.
Coun John Smith said the move would be a massive improvement over the Government scheme.
"The statutory scheme is good but restricted," he said. "What good is free travel if it doesn't cover you for a 9am doctor's appointment?"
Further developments will follow over the next three years, after the Malvern-Worcester corridor was chosen as one of 43 schemes to share £20 million of Government funding to improve bus services. The £161,000 grant will improve links to the new hospital in Worcester, in particular.
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