Elderly people living in rural areas around Wantage have renewed calls for a travel token scheme to be reinstated following a Government pledge to provide them with free local bus travel.

In his Budget statement, Chancellor Gordon Brown said there would be free local bus travel for disabled people and those over the age of 60, from April 2006.

But pensioners fear the pledge will not help those living in remote parts of the Vale of White Horse district which are poorly served by buses.

June Smaje, 75, of Adkin Way, Wantage, said: "I have heard from people who live in the villages that they are not happy at all -- particularly in places like Chilton, where, although there is a bus, they have to walk out of Chilton about a mile-and-a-half to get it.

"Where I live in Adkin Way, I still have to walk a fair distance to catch a bus."

Mrs Smaje said she would like to see the travel tokens scheme reinstated because people could also use the tokens for taxis.

But from April 1, the Vale of White Horse District Council will no longer issue assisted travel tokens, although people previously entitled to them can get a half-fare bus pass and use a dial-a-ride service.

Matthew Barber, the council member for Faringdon and the Coxwells, has collected about 400 signatures on a petition opposing the council's decision.

Council leader Jerry Patterson said the tokens would not be reinstated, because the council did not have the money to fund the scheme.

"I regret being put in a position where we have to make this economy," he said.

Mr Patterson said the council was to seek guidance from the Government on how people living in rural areas could benefit from free bus travel, possibly by including community buses -- such as those operating in Faringdon and Stanford in the Vale -- in the scheme.

The district council will also be lobbying Government for funding to meet the increased costs of providing free bus travel.

A spokesperson for HM Treasury said £350m had been allocated to cover the additional costs for English local authorities. This money would be provided to councils as part of their Revenue Support Grant.

For information about the discontinuation of travel tokens, and other transport help, call the council on 01235 520202.