CHEAP rate travellers are being reassured that new national standards will not disadvantage them.

Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council is informing the 14,000 members of its concessionary travel scheme that their benefits will not be jeopardised when the rules are introduced later this year.

Currently, the authority's scheme offers travel at a flat rate of 30p once members have paid their £12 annual fee.

Now the Government is asking all councils to offer free scheme membership and half-price travel.

Councillor Dave Walsh, the council leader, said: "We spend about £1m a year on our concessionary travel scheme and are justifiably proud of it. I can give a categorical pledge that nobody will be worse off as a result of the new national standards."

The Government standards are aimed at the many councils that do not offer travel reductions for pensioners or the disabled, or that offer only limited assistance.

Councillor Sylvia Szintai, lead councillor for the environment and infrastructure, said: "Our scheme is better for people who make regular long journeys, while the new national standards will be better for infrequent users and those making short trips. We will give people the choice of joining the old scheme or the new one."