ELDERLY and disabled passengers will be able to travel free on Durham City's park- and-ride buses next month.

A concessionary scheme that starts on April 1 for ordinary bus services throughout County Durham, will also apply to the Durham County Council shuttle between the city centre and three outlying car parks.

But it will only be open to concessionary permit holders who live in the county and who currently pay half-fare.

Park-and-ride users pay only for the bus ride - there is no separate parking charge.

Visitors from outside the county who are over 60 or registered disabled will have to pay the £1.70 return fare.

The county's seven district councils and the bus operators agreed a £7m scheme to give county-wide free travel after their original proposals to limit free travel to within districts was criticised.

A spokesman for the county council said: "It will be exactly the same on park and ride as on other bus services.

"People who have a County Durham pass will be able to travel and park for free. We will be seeking to recover the costs from the districts under the county-wide scheme.''

Park and ride began operating in December to ease congestion in the city centre.