A scheme offering subsidised taxi fares to disabled people with severe mobility problems is being launched in Hambleton.

Vouchers will be issued - the value of which is dependent on where residents live - which will enable users to receive half-price travel from April 1.

Up to £60 of travel will be half price for those in rural wards and £30 in urban wards.

The vouchers can be used in taxis run by any of the 32 participating companies, as well as on any of the vehicles operated by the community car schemes in the district.

The initiative comes on top of the concessionary bus pass scheme that already has nearly 7,000 users signed up.

"The bus pass scheme has been working successfully for some time now but we need to ensure that these people are not excluded from concessionary travel," said council leader June Imeson.

"This scheme is the starting point from which we can build. Once we have monitored its take up we can see if we need to increase the vouchers on offer."

Those who qualify for the vouchers must be in receipt of Attendance Allowance or the mobility component of Disability Living Allowance.

For an application form call (01609) 767080; or they can be downloaded from www.hambleton.gov.uk or collected from council offices in Northallerton, Stokesley or Easingwold and from any of the participating operators. A full list of operators is included on the council's website.