A PENSIONER was kicked off a bus just days after bus travel became free for over 60s because she didn't have a new pass.

Brenda Parkinson was thrown off the Wilts and Dorset X35 service in Lyndhurst as she tried to get to Ringwood for a day out.

As part of the Government scheme brought in last week, pensioners are now entitled to free bus travel anywhere in the country.

But despite posters on Southampton buses reassuring pensioners they can still use their old passes until the new ones are issued, Brenda was left cold and angry after being told her pass was not valid.

She boarded a bus in Southampton and travelled for free to Lyndhurst, but when she tried to change buses to get to Ringwood, she was thrown off and had to get on a bus back to Southampton.

Another pensioner, who asked to remain anonymous, has also had her pass rejected by a Wilts and Dorset bus driver and was forced to hand over £4.50 for a journey in the New Forest.

She told the Daily Echo she felt humiliated by the experience.

No complaints have been received about First or Solent Blue Line, Hampshire's two major bus operators.

Brenda, 75, of Milner Court, Shirley, Southampton, said: "I couldn't believe it when the bus driver said I wasn't allowed to travel on his bus.

"In the buses in Southampton there are big signs up saying not to worry if you don't have your new bus pass, your old one will be fine until you get your new one. Well that is obviously not the case and it makes me very cross.

"I spent over three hours of my day travelling back and forward, I didn't make it to where I wanted to go and I arrived home cold and angry.

Brenda added that the incident had put her off using buses, which she had until now relied on to travel around the county.

"I am frightened now to go anywhere on the buses in case I get turned away again," she said. "The last thing I need is to get to somewhere to find I can't get back again."

Wilts and Dorset spokesman Chris Harris said: "We are accepting old passes for customers that start or finish their journey in Southampton. Those who both start and finish outside will need a letter from the council.

"This problem should be disappearing soon as new passes should all have been issued by the end of April."