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Friday, September 05, 2008, 07:30
But red-faced council bosses have now been forced to admit that, in reality, those smiling pensioners would have had to pay full price to use the route pictured on the leaflet.
The leaflet – advertising the Lincoln to Sheffield bus – was distributed across Lincolnshire when the free bus pass scheme was introduced in April.
But pensioners have been told they cannot use their passes on the route because it is exempt from the programme.
Tony and Janet Howsam, of Roman Wharf, off Carholme Road, Lincoln, tried to board a bus to Sheffield run by Lincolnshire firm Hunt's and said they were astonished to find they could not use their passes.
Mr Howsam (72) said: "We have used these passes everywhere – even up in the Lake District.
"But when we got on this bus, the driver said it would cost £8."
East Lindsey District Council spokesman James Gilbert , which produced the leaflets on behalf of councils across Lincolnshire, said: "The Lincoln to Sheffield route was part of the scheme at the time of printing the leaflet.
"Future print runs will use an updated photograph to reflect the change.
"The Lincoln to Sheffield route is a premium route and not a local bus route.
"Routes like this can be exempt from the scheme."
Jim Taylor, operations manager at Hunt's, said: "The amount of money we received did not cover the driver's wages."
Find out more about the bus pass scheme in Friday's Lincolnshire Echo
Tony and Janet Howsam with the leaflet promoting free travel.
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