WEST Lancashire MP Rosie Cooper said: “The way West Lancs District Council has handled the Government’s free travel for the disabled and pensioners has been appalling.

“Last year, WLDC said it hadn't been given enough money by the Government and therefore people would have to choose between either free bus or rail travel. Yet this year, it is expected to make a big profit out of the scheme so I am pressing the District Council to do the right thing and let people have both free bus and rail travel, just like they do in Merseyside and Greater Manchester.

“It’s time for WLDC to stop behaving like Scrooge and give pensioners the Christmas present they deserve and stop treating them like second class citizens.”