Chaos on the buses

Frustrated pensioners are facing long queues at photo booths as they struggle to beat a deadline for new bus passes.

Thousands have already been unable to get through to a helpline to renew their passes. Those who have are sent an application form - only to face more problems when they attempt to get their mugshot taken.

The chaotic scenes have been prompted by an October 15 deadline for new passes, which offer free transport on all local services across the country.

Half a million pensioners in the West Midlands have been told they must renew their passes. But the helpline which they needed to call if they had not received their pass by Monday was jammed and pensioners kept finding the service cut them off.

This week transport authority Centro unveiled a new number to a call centre in Bristol staffed by up to 58 people.

Those who have received a form were today facing hour-long queues to get mugshots, and many photo booths are malfunctioning because they are jammed. Queues were forming at Boots in the Mander Centre, Wolverhampton, and there were also long lines at Merry Hill, Dudley, and the Bullring, Birmingham.

One pensioner, John Blair, aged 64, of Stourbridge, said: "I have been to four different places looking for a booth, including Stourport, Stourbridge and Wolverhampton."

The new helpline number was today constantly engaged, despite the opening of the new call centre. Centro spokesman Chris Perry said: "We apologise to those people who have had trouble phoning."

He said pensioners should not panic as there was a Government guarantee that all those eligible will receive their pass.

by Transport Correspondent Daniel Wainwright