THOUSANDS of County Durham secondary school pupils will be offered the chance to sign up for cheaper travel next week.

County council officials will visit five schools so that youngsters, aged 14 and 15, can get a special card entitling them to half-price bus travel.

The £100,000 scheme, drawn up by the council following a suggestion by youngsters on the county's Investing in Children (IIC) group, will give cheaper travel to pupils on weekday evenings, at weekends, and during school holidays.

The school visits will enable pupils to sign up for the scheme and have their photograph taken for their half-fare card.

Council leader Don Robson said: "Young people from the IIC transport group originally came to see us during Local Democracy Week last year to tell us how transport services for people of their age could be improved.

"They had obviously done their homework very well. We set about seeing how we could help, and were able to identify £100,000 in the council budget to cover the bus cards.

"Now we have listened to the teenagers again on how best we can promote the scheme so that all 17,000 eligible young people in the county can benefit from it.

"With the card, over-14s will be able to take part in after-school activities and social events without having to worry about paying extra.

"It means they will have greater independence and hopefully our future adults will be encouraged to use public transport instead of relying on cars.''

IIC transport group member Helen Swanwick said: "Just because they are younger and haven't had experience in the business world doesn't mean young people can't get involved. They have ideas, it's only experience they lack."

The council plans to send travel card teams to all the county's schools so that all 17,000 eligible teenagers have the chance to join the scheme.

The school visit timetable is: Staindrop, Monday; Tanfield, Tuesday; Easington Wednesday; Framwellgate, Thursday; and Woodham, next Friday.