HUNDREDS of furious Hampshire pensioners have added their voices to those demanding their bus pass privileges are not put in jeopardy.

More than 1,000 people have already put their names to the Daily Echo petition in the week since it was launched.

Many residents have also sent in letters of support, explaining why countywide travel is so important to them.

All are urging the government to ensure pleas from bus companies that they should get more cash for carrying pensioners do not result in Hampshire's countywide travel scheme being withdrawn.

One concerned bus pass-holder, Helen Morgan, of Summers Close, Stanmore, Winchester, was yesterday busy gathering the support of fellow members of the Rainbow Club.

She believes it is essential that as many people as possible back the petition if free countywide travel is to be safeguarded.

Mrs Morgan, 64, said the scheme has made a big difference to the lives of many elderly residents since it was introduced in April.

"A lot of our old people don't get out much at all. For them to be able to get out for free and go pretty much anywhere they like has got to be a bonus," she said.

"Getting out is quite important when you're elderly and not working, and I think it would be really awful for the older ones - they haven't got the money to just throw round.

"I would be really unhappy if we lost it, but they must take notice of this sort of campaign if thousands of people tell them what they think of it."

Mrs Morgan added that as she and her husband do not have a car, being able to travel around the county has allowed them to enjoy trips to places they have never been before, whereas otherwise they would probably have ended up staying at home.

"It makes quite a lot of difference because the bus fares are quite high now. We certainly wouldn't go far afield," she said.

"Even with shopping, old people can't carry too much at a time so they'll go two or three times a week.

"It's good to spread it out over the week, but if it's going to cost you that much extra on top of your shopping then that's not funny."

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.