ELDERLY and disabled residents in Wychavon have been reminded to take advantage of a free travel offer.

Wychavon District Council has teamed up with the county council and other district authorities to launch a new bus pass, which will allow residents to travel free throughout Worcestershire and into neighbouring counties, as long as their journey starts and finishes in Worcestershire.

It will also offer free travel on community transport, provided by volunteer groups in Wychavon. Over the next 12 months the current pass will be replaced with a plastic five-year swipe card.

Democratic services officer Louise Bennett said: "Not only can people travel for free, but we are making the bus pass system even easier to use.

"However, the changeover will take a few months and we are writing to everyone who is currently on our records to explain the changes.

"We urge you to be patient as the process will take a while to get up and running as we need to include photos. This also means the passes will only be available from our community contact centres."

For more information visit www.wychavon.gov.uk, or call community centres in Evesham on 01386 443322, Droitwich on 01905 794272, or Pershore on 01386 565000.