Eligible older residents in Stoke-on-Trent can now travel for free on local buses before 9.30am on weekdays.

The Potteries Freedom Pass was officially launched today (Monday 5 October) at Hanley Bus Station.

It comes after Stoke-on-Trent City Council approved the local enhancement to the government-funded English National Concessionary Travel Scheme (ENCTS) as part of a pilot running until 31 March 2027.

At the launch event, Councillor Finlay Gordon-McCusker, Cabinet Member for Growth, Regeneration and Transport at Stoke-on-Trent City Council, said: "Sometimes older people do still work, sometimes they want to go shopping, they might have a doctor's appointment or school run with the grandkids.

"I think it's really important we give people choice and they shouldn't have to pay. They have got a pensioner's pass for a reason and we just wanted to give them that freedom to travel when they want to, when it suits them.

"And with the huge amount of extra services now in the mornings, I want as many people to be able to benefit from that as possible."

Under the national ENCTS scheme, eligible older and disabled pass holders receive free bus travel after 9.30am on weekdays and all day at weekends and on Bank Holidays.

The enhancement allows older people's pass holders to travel free at any time, on any day of the week, across participating Stoke-on-Trent bus services.

Cllr Gordon-McCusker added: "I'm hopeful that this will get more people on the bus.

"Letting them know that they can use their pass any time of day without any conditions, I think will encourage more people to get on and use it."

Local bus operators D&G Bus, First Potteries, Scraggs and Stantons of Stoke have reached an agreement with the city council to deliver the enhancement.

Stoke-on-Trent resident Ian Fradley, 77, welcomed the introduction of the Potteries Freedom Pass.

He said: "If you've got a Stoke-on-Trent bus stop, and you've got a Stoke-on-Trent pass, you can catch the bus any time, seven days a week with any of the providers.

"So to me, it's total freedom."

The council has confirmed that the Potteries Freedom Pass will be met within the existing concessionary fares budget.

For information about concessionary bus travel and eligibility criteria, visit the Stoke-on-Trent City Council website here.