DISABLED people and anyone over 60 will be able to travel by bus free throughout the former Cleveland county area from April 1.

Members of Hartlepool Borough Council's cabinet have voted to approve a major extension to the existing system of concessionary fares to allow free all-day travel in the Tees Valley.

It will cover the boroughs of Hartlepool, Stockton, Middlesbrough and Redcar and Cleveland.

The council said the package, one of four options considered by its cabinet, was above the legal minimum required by the Government.

Residents 60 and over, along with disabled people, now travel at half-fare rates within Hartlepool and also to parts of Middlesbrough and Stockton, on services 1 and 36.

The expanded concessionary fares scheme will cost about £1.3m, up almost £835,000 on the £453,764 cost of the current arrangement.

However, Hartlepool council has received additional money from the Government to help fund the changes.

Councillor Ray Waller, who proposed adoption of the Tees Valley-wide scheme, said: "As the council's older people's champion, I am delighted that my cabinet colleagues agreed to support this option.

"It will make life so much easier for lots of older people, including those who have hospital appointments at the University Hospital of North Tees, in Stockton, or the James Cook University Hospital, in Middlesbrough.

"They will be able to travel free to these places after April 1."

Pensioners will be able to use their existing passes from April 1. New applications are being processed at Civic Centre reception from Monday to Friday, from 10am to noon and 2pm to 4pm.