COUNTY council chiefs today reminded elderly residents of East Lancashire of impending changes to the bus pass system.

Pensioners are to be given credit card-style bus passes - the NoWcard smart card - in a modernisation drive designed to make it simpler to use buses.

Old-style bus passes will not be accepted by drivers from September and Lancashire County Council is asking the elderly to start applying for the new "NoWcard".

From today to next Friday, passholders with surnames beginning with A, B or C are asked to visit their Post Office to get an application form and apply for the new card.

People with surnames beginning D, E or F should apply the following week - and so on until the end of March.

The whole of East Lancashire is involved.

County Councillor Jean Yates, Lancashire County Council's Cabinet member for Highways and Transportation, said: "These new cards fill exactly the same use - and entitle people to exactly the same concessions - as the old senior citizen bus pass.

"When bus operators are equipped later this year the smart card will be swiped on a scanner as the passenger boards the bus. Drivers will know instantly what concession the bearer is entitled to and that will make the process easier for everyone - and avoid disputes about what the concession is."

Surnames beginning with, as follows, should apply between the following dates:

ABC, 9-14 February; DEF, 16-21 February; GHIJ, 23-28 February; KLM, 1-6 March; NOP, 8-13 March; QRST, 15-20 March; UVWXYZ, 22-27 March.

The NoWcard will be posted to applicants towards the end of August and existing passes should be used until then.