A CONTROVERSIAL "free travel" scheme for thousands of North-East pensioners and disabled people is expected to be announced today.

But the plan was immediately condemned last night because passengers will have to pay for any bus trips that run beyond their home district council area.

District councils in County Durham are today expected to agree a concessionary scheme incorporating the Government's pledge of free travel.

At present, pensioners and people who are registered disabled who apply for a pass issued by their council receive half- price bus and train travel within County Durham and to Teesside and Tyne and Wear.

From April, if the councils agree, journeys within an individual district will be free - the statutory minimum scheme - but passengers will have to pay half fare for the part of their journey that crosses into other districts.

Although the Government has provided £350m to fund free travel nationwide critics say it is not enough.

In Tyne and Wear, subsidised buses and discount fares for youngsters could be axed because of a cash shortfall created because funding is given by size of population, not actual usage.

Darlington, Redcar and Cleveland, Middlesbrough, Stockton and Hartlepool are still consulting on a joint scheme. The plan being discussed is similar to the County Durham proposal.

Councils in North Yorkshire have also warned of funding shortfalls that could make the introduction of a truly free scheme impossible.

Derwentside District Council's leader Alex Watson said: "It is a tremendous idea, but unfortunately the Government haven't thought it through and miscalculated the funding.

"It is a bit of a dog's breakfast, unfortunately. We have made every effort and if we could (make free travel county-wide) we would, there is no question about that. The money just isn't there. It is massively disappointing."

Councillor Carol Woods, a cabinet member of Durham City Council, said: "The Government should have funded a scheme for free travel across the North-East."

Reg Davison, secretary of the North-East Pensioners Association's Wear Valley and Auckland branch, said: "It seems a bit of a mess."

County Durham MPs, who had joined forces to plea for a county-wide agreement to ensure pensioners got the best deal, were quick to condemn the decision.

Durham North MP Kevan Jones said: "This will cause chaos and confusion amongst older people and I would like to know how much this other system will cost to adminster.

"Someone travelling from Stanley to Durham City will have to go through Chester-le-Street and Derwentside, which will mean three different district authorities."

Durham City MP Roberta Blackman-Woods said the Government had to take a share of the blame for handing the cash for the scheme to town halls in the first place.

She said: "I can't for the life of me understand why the money didn't go to the county. The districts have not acted in the best interests of our older people.