SWEEPING changes to bus fares will mean elderly and disabled passengers in Mid Cheshire can travel for free.

From April 1, over 60s and disabled passengers will have free travel for all journeys which start and finish in Cheshire.

Free travel is available from Monday to Friday from 9.30am until the last bus service and for the whole day on Saturdays, Sundays and Bank Holidays.

For travel on weekdays, before 9.30am, half fares will apply. Passes are available for anyone who is a permanent resident and is either over 60 or who:

Has a disability or has suffered an injury which has a substantial and long term adverse effect on their ability to walk;

Has a learning disability which started before adulthood and has had a lasting effect on development; Is partially sighted, is profoundly or severely deaf, is without the use of both arms, is without speech.

Has been refused a driving licence or had their licence revoked on medical grounds (other than persistent misuse of drugs or alcohol).

Current bus passes are still valid and there is no need to apply for a new pass.

Winsford Cllr Tony Hooton said: 'This is great news for elderly and disabled people in Mid Cheshire.

'Anything encouraging people to use public transport has got to be positive.'

The Government will increase funding to English local authorities by £350m per year to meet the costs of providing the additional concession-ary fares.

Town link launched

A NEW hourly bus service between Middlewich and Northwich launched this week.

The 36 Arriva service, which runs until 11.25pm Monday to Saturday, carried Middlewich passengers to Northwich for the first time on Monday morning, and promises to make travel around Mid Cheshire much easier.

Middlewich Town and Borough Cllr Mike Parsons, who took a central role in the service's development, said: 'I've been living and working in Middlewich for 35 years and this is the first regular bus service between here and Northwich in that time.

'It's good to have played a part in this, but I just hope people will use it now it's here.'

He hoped one element of the service - the late evening 36A - would contribute to its success. He said: 'Originally, the plan was to run the 36 until 10pm, but as I pointed out, even the cinema is often not finished by 10pm. So now, after 6pm, the service will change to the 36A, still running between Northwich and Middlewich and the last bus will be leaving Northwich at 11.25pm.' Cllr Parsons is now working to secure a direct Middlewich to Crewe bus service, running through Warmingham.