AN MP is urging a council to think again about plans to increase the cost of concessionary bus fares.

Pensioners are angry at Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council proposals for council tax rises of seven percent and increases in bus passes.

More than 1,000 have signed a petition.

Vera Baird, MP for Redcar, joined a protest demonstration of pensioners yesterday.

She said: "The numbers show how appalled local people are that their local councillor members of the Tory-led Coalition are planning to hit local pensioners with the double whammy of increased council tax and higher charges for the concessionary bus fares scheme.

"Victimising the Pensioners was a phrase used to me, last weekend in an Eston club, more than once. The coalition must think again."

About 16,000 people travel on concessionary bus passes in east Cleveland. Of these 12,000 use the council scheme, which means £12 for a bus pass and a flat concessionary fare rate. The remaining 4,000 choose a Government scheme which is a free pass and half-fare travel.

The council proposal is to increase the cost of bus passes to £15 and charge 40p, a rise of 10p, on its concessionary fares.

A council spokesman said: "It's still a good deal.''

Councillor Glyn Nightingale, council member for corporate resources, said: "No decisions have been made. But it is not question of withdrawing the bus passes or any facilities for pensioners.

"If we make a decision to increase the bus pass charge it will work out at only one penny per day."