BUS passengers across the Tees Valley can continue to use a concessionary deal thanks to a special agreement.

Holders of the English National Concessionary Travel Scheme passes can travel free betweeen 9.30am and 11pm on Mondays to Fridays and all day at weekends.

But local bus operators and Hartlepool, Middlesbrough, Stockton and Redcar and Cleveland councils have reached an agreement to allow pass holders to travel for 30p before 9.30am.

The local agreement only applies in the area covered by the four councils and the national restriction will apply when boarding buses elsewhere.

Under the deal, the four councils will together pay local bus operators more than £12 million for free travel for disabled people and those of retirement age in 2011/12, subject to approval by each council's cabinet.

A spokesperson for the four councils said: "This renewal of our local agreement shows the co-operation between the four councils and bus operators for the common good.

"Unlike other areas which only operate the national scheme, our local agreement still allows travel at any time, although passholders who begin their journeys before 9.30am on weekdays will pay a 30 pence flat fare from April 1.”