BUS passengers in Darlington could be paying twice for passes following a delay in delivery of new ones.

Notices are being put up in buses in the Darlington borough informing customers about extensions to passes that were due to expire this week.

But some customers, who have been using half-fare bus passes and now qualify for an enhanced bus pass, which costs £80 a year, are having to continue paying half fare on trips, meaning they are effectively paying twice for journeys.

Darlington Borough Council had to push back the date for the issuing of bus passes from March 31 to April 30 after problems in processing and delivering the new passes, which should have already been posted to users.

The council said the delay was because of a large increase in the number of passes being processed.

Last year 6,000 were issued, but this year the number rose to 16,000 because of the expiry of half-fare passes, which are issued every three years.

Julie Bryson, of Darlington, said she was still waiting for her pass this week.

Despite qualifying for a free bus pass, she said she was still having to pay a fare on journeys because it had not arrived.

She said: "I'm paying twice for my bus journeys because I've just qualified for a free pass, but I'm still having to use the half-fare one because my new pass hasn't arrived yet. I have paid out £80 for a new pass and it isn't here.

"It's not the money so much. I am just angry that the council has been so disorganised."

A council spokesman said anyone who applied for a pass in mid-March should have received it by now.

All passes are expected to be delivered to customers by the end of April.