Pensioner bus passes are to be opened up to include on-peak travel – but councils deny they have done a U-turn over the issue.

Councils in Lincolnshire have agreed to lift travel restrictions on the new concessionary travel scheme.

It means that the over-60s will soon be able to travel for free before 9.30am.

Previously Lincolnshire's councils had decided to apply the scheme only to off-peak travel.

But residents in rural Lincolnshire, particularly those with limited services, said it left them stranded.

Barry Sharpe (70), from Fiskerton, complained that the new pass left him and his neighbours unable to catch the 9am bus to Lincoln – one of just five city-bound services a day.

He said yesterday that the prospect of being able to catch the early bus again was "brilliant news".

"It's marvellous – it just shows you what a bit of people power can do when you fight for these things," he said.

The group of Lincolnshire councils was led by East Lindsey District Council.

East Lindsey District Council spokesman James Gilbert said: "This isn't a U-turn.

"We've always been reviewing the situation since the decision was made to go with the Government's times."

For the full story see Saturday's Echo.