A SCHEME which has brought cut-price travel to elderly and disabled people is likely to be expanded, council chiefs have confirmed.

Concessionary bus fares were first offered to people living in Hambleton in June last year, in a move which local authorities heralded as being of huge benefit to residents.

The scheme, which was initiated by central Government, is being run in partnership with all other councils in North Yorkshire. It allows people to travel for half-price within the county, as well as further afield to shopping centres such as Darlington, Middlesbrough and York.

Although more than 6,000 residents have taken up the passes, members of Hambleton District Council's cabinet were told that many residents were excluded because of a lack of public transport in their rural communities, or disabilities which meant that they were unable to use it.

The leader of the council, Councillor June Imeson, said: "We want to do the best we can to ensure all disabled people have a concessionary travel scheme. We need to cater for all types of disability, and to use more modes of transport than buses."

As a result, councillors are now looking at ways to incorporate taxis into the scheme.

Coun Imeson said cabinet members were considering four possible options - special tokens, vouchers, taxi cards and smart cards.