FREE school travel for sixth formers has been scrapped in favour of a "fairer" scheme that will extend cut-price travel to more students.

Under a subsidy shake-up agreed by Durham County Council's cabinet, all over-16s will have to pay some of the cost of travelling to their school or college.

This will replace the present system, where free transport is available to students who travel more than two miles to study a core course.

The council is paying £2.9m this year, almost £1m above the national average, to fund free travel but considers this unsustainable. Cabinet members who agreed the policy switch said it would encourage more young people to continue in post-16 education, because all would now get help towards travel costs.

The council took an initial sounding on the proposals earlier this year, finding widespread support among colleges, bus operators and students who did not benefit from the existing policy.

Director of children's services David Williams told the cabinet that further consultation had helped shape the proposals. A package of options ranges from giving students a cash contribution of up to £130 each term, depending on how far they have to travel, to providing them with an identity card to confirm their eligibility for cut-price fares.

Mr Williams said: "In addition to these proposals, those in difficult financial circumstances will continue to qualify for Educational Maintenance Allowances of up to £30 a week, and may be able to access free buses provided by colleges themselves or seek free travel where there are spare seats on school buses."

"Many students believe the current system is unfair. "These proposals will significantly improve student choice, which in turn we hope, will encourage more to go on to further learning post-16.

Councillor Claire Vasey, cabinet member for children and young people's services said: "This will improve access to further education for young people who may currently be put off by the travel costs involved.

"Instead of free travel for some, it will offer cut price travel for many more, and that has got to help make 'staying on' a more attractive option for our young people."