PENSIONERS across Oxfordshire are unhappy about the late arrival of free bus passes and a lack of consistency in the times they can be used in different parts of the county.

Oxford City Council was accused of "incompetence" after hundreds of people failed to receive the new passes, which entitle over-60s to free off-peak bus journeys all over the country.

Oxford City Council said it sent out 96 per cent of the 18,000 bus passes it is issuing by last Wednesday.

The Vale of White Horse District Council sent out 15,456 passes by second-class mail last Thursday, and sent out the rest of its 1,076 passes a day after Tuesday's deadline.

Meanwhile, South Oxfordshire District Council said it had issued 12,400 new passes, but due to printing problems about eight per cent (some 990) had been delayed.

Cherwell council and West Oxfordshire council were unable to say how many cards had been sent or delayed.

All district councils in Oxfordshire said they had informed drivers to accept people's current bus passes, which are valid until September. However, there is no guarantee that they will be accepted nationwide.

There was also disquiet in the Vale of White Horse and Cherwell districts over the two councils' decision to stick to the national bus pass scheme starting time of 9.30am.