The national free bus pass scheme, which came in this week, has been beset with controversy.

The scheme gives people aged over 60, or who are disabled, free travel on local buses between 9.30am and 11pm. Grumbles from users locally have focused on the decision by the Vale and Cherwell district councils not to extend the hours of the new scheme to 9am.

The objections are understandable, as many had enjoyed concessionary travel from 9am under the old bus pass scheme.

But any decision to extend the hours of the Government-subsidised scheme lies with each individual council, with the extra costs falling on that council's taxpayers.

Other complaints have come from people who have not yet received their free travel cards.

As the scheme is being administered by local authorities they have been taking the brunt of the criticism, but that might not be entirely fair.

This national scheme was announced with a flourish two years ago, but since then the details have been very slow to emerge.

Indeed, it was only a few months ago that all the components of the scheme were made clear by central Government, giving local authorities precious little time to make the necessary preparations.

Another problem is that the new passes are so-called 'smart' cards and the technology needed to produce them lies in the hands of just a handful of companies who admit they have been overwhelmed with demand.

Choosing April 1 to launch any Government-inspired scheme was always likely to be fraught with difficulties.