PENSIONERS and taxpayers will pay the cost of Labour's new regional transport policy, claims John Walsh.

The Tory councillor and candidate for Bury North in the next General Election says the new Transport Act, which guarantees OAPs half-fare travel, could actually hit the pockets of senior citizens or, indeed, everyone else.

The hours of travel may be restricted and pensioners may have to pay more if a particular half-fare journey costs more than the current concessionary fare of 37p.

Coun Walsh says that two out of three pensioners will be worse off unless councils agree to maintain present rates. If they do, the cost to tax payers across Greater Manchester will be more than £3 million.