RESIDENTS have complained that a new concessionary bus pass scheme could leave pensioners worse off when making some journeys.

Because the County Durham concessionary fare scheme does not include Darlington, pensioners coming into the town from outside the area will have to pay full-price travel.

The concessionary fare scheme comes into effect today across Durham and Darlington as part of a national initiative.

The seven district councils in County Durham have joined together to allow free travel across the county.

However, this partnership does not include Darlington Borough Council and pensioners living outside of Darlington will not be eligible for free travel within the borough.

One resident from Sedgefield has said this could lead to many pensioners losing the half-fare travel they previously enjoyed.

The woman, who asked not to be named, said: "A lot of pensioners come into Darlington at the weekend.

"Some of them go in to the town centre and then on to Morrisons at Morton Palms.

"They used to get there for half fare and now some of them might not have the money.

"It's going to be the poor drivers that bear the brunt and they're just caught in the middle."

The concessionary fare scheme will apply to everybody over 60 and people who are registered disabled.

In Darlington, those residents eligible for the scheme will be entitled to free travel within the borough throughout the day and at weekends.

There will also be free travel every day on the Arriva services 1 and 1B to Bishop Auckland General Hospital.

A spokesman for Sedgefield Borough Council said that under the scheme, people travelling into Darlington would be eligible for free fares.

In the past, they would only have received a half-price concession.

However, once they were in town they would have to pay the full fare.

He added: "It's the same right across the county, a person can get free travel all the way to Newcastle, but would have to pay full price for travel within Newcastle.

"However, it should still be cheaper as they would not have got the free fares in the past."