PENSIONERS' groups are to take the campaign to safeguard free bus travel in Hampshire to a national convention.

Members travelling to London for Wednesday's National Pensions Lobby will be armed with copies of the Daily Echo petition calling on the government to ensure a challenge by bus operators doesn't jeopardise the countywide scheme.

Representatives from both the Southampton and Eastleigh Southern Parishes forums will lobby MPs and join delegates from across the country to call for a better deal for pensioners.

They will also be highlighting the threat to free travel across Hampshire, which is the subject of a challenge from bus companies who want more funding.

Diane Andrewes, secretary of Eastleigh Southern Parishes Older People's Forum, said the countywide scheme has been enormously beneficial to thousands of pensioners.

"It's like the stable door has been opened to old people who have been stuck at home but now they can go and explore Hampshire," said Mrs Andrewes, of Bursledon.

"We are horrified to hear that the bus operators are mounting some sort of legal challenge to prevent older and disabled passengers from benefiting from the consideration shown by the government and local authorities in providing the means to get out and about," she said.

"The de-regulation of buses was a disaster for the paying public and it is time for the buses to be brought back under local authority control and run as a public service.

"We support the Daily Echo's campaign to stop the bus operators putting their profits before their pensioner passengers."

You can download a copy of our petition by clicking here to download and print our special SAVE OUR FREE HAMPSHIRE BUS PASSES petition, get your friends and neighbours to sign it and post it back to Jon Reeve, Southern Daily Echo, Newspaper House, Test Lane, Redbridge, Southampton SO16 9JX.