PENSIONERS in Colchester were today celebrating as they look set to win the battle to allow them to use their bus passes from 9am.

Under the new national travel-concession scheme, people aged over 60 can get free bus travel on routes around the country.

In Colchester, the passes can be used between 9.30am and 11pm on weekdays and at any time over the weekend and bank holidays.

However, pensioners complained the first free buses at 9.30am were full because of the overwhelming demand for the service.

They called for free bus travel to kick in at 9am - the start time of Colchester Council's previous concessionary bus-pass scheme.

Now their calls have been answered, as Tim Young, Colchester Council's new portfolio holder for street services, has made it a top priority.

Tendring Council has already pledged to see if they can make changes to the scheme, too.

Labour group leader Mr Young had made the reintroduction of the 9am start time one of his conditions for working with other parties to form the new council administration.

He said: "One of the first things for the new administration will be to bring that time back to 9am. It has caused so much inconveninence for the pensioners."

Discussions are now ongoing with council officers about facilitating the changes.