Pensioners can hop on a bus early in the morning using their free local bus pass starting tomorrow.

All over-60s can now benefit from 24-hour local travel.

Lincolnshire pensioners have welcomed the news that they can get up and out bright and early once again.

Disabled pensioner Alan Robinson (66), from Boultham Moor, Lincoln, said he continued to travel in to the city centre at 8am for shopping trips.

"Since April I've paid a single fare into town," he said.

"Because of my disability I like to go when the shops are quiet and it means I can be at Wilkinson's at 8.30am when it opens.

"It's common sense to go early because it is so much quieter."

The introduction of the national concessionary travel scheme on April 1 prompted outrage among county pensioners.

Although it meant the over-60s can travel anywhere around the country for free at off-peak times, it resulted in them not being able to use local buses before 9.30am.

Lincolnshire pensioners complained that they could no longer book early medical appointments or do their shopping first thing in the morning without paying full fare.

For more stories see Monday's Lincolnshire Echo.