BLIND pensioners should fork out £60 to buy a year-long bus pass if they want to avoid confusion over what concession they are entitled to.

That was the response from the councillor in charge of social services at Blackburn with Darwen Council after being told new legislation governing discounted travel fares was confusing some blind people so much they were staying in their homes.

Last summer, new laws took effect which meant councils had to provide concessionary fares to a wider variety of people, with more disabilities being deemed eligible for half-price fares.

Because no more money came from the Government to cover the cost, councils scrapped the 30p all journeys fare which registered blind and partially-sighted had been entitled to.

People already claiming the 30p fare were to continue receiving it, but blind people registering after will only be able to get half fare.

The result, according to Mike Mulcahy, of Blackburn and District Blind Society, has been bus drivers demanding half fares from all blind and partially sighted people.

He said: "The whole point about 30p fares has been that blind people can work out what money they need before they get on the bus, enabling them to live life to the same extent as sighted people.

"The bus pass for blind people who qualify for the 30p is very similar to the bus pass for people who only get half fare, and bus drivers have been demanding half fare, which causes frustration for the blind person.

"I know of people who don't want to leave their homes and catch public transport because it causes so many problems.

"I am sure it was not intended to disadvantage blind people, but something needs to be done to sort it out.

"Even the blind people who only qualify for half fare anyway don't like travelling, but half fares changed on every route and it can become very confusing."

Coun Sue Reid, executive member for social services at Blackburn with Darwen Council, said: "This change has been forced on to us by a change in legislation and we just could not afford to pay for everyone to have half fares.

"We expected around 2,000 extra applications from people who qualify now, but so far we have only received 600.

"We are looking at introducing different coloured cards for people who still get the 30p concession.

"People qualifying for a concession can also pay £60 a year for a bus pass which lets them travel for free for a year."

Lancashire County Council is also looking to tackle the problem, even though the responsibility lies with borough councils.

A spokesman said: "We are looking at introducing a scheme of smartcards which would be slotted into a machine on the bus so the driver knows which fare to apply."