OWNERS of discounted bus passes are being warned they could no longer be accepted.

From April, bus drivers will not be accepting passes from East Sussex County Council which have been cancelled, reported lost or stolen, replaced with a newer pass or which don’t work because they’re damaged.

Cllr Claire Dowling, East Sussex County Council lead member for transport and environment, said: “These changes are aimed at ensuring the system is not abused and only people with a valid pass travel for free. The vast majority of people will be unaffected but there may be some who are entitled to have a free bus pass but are inadvertently carrying around an old or invalid pass. As long as people’s bus pass is accepted by the machine when they scan it on board the bus, they don’t have to do anything.

“If it’s not working or there is a problem between now and April, the driver will give them a leaflet advising them what they need to do to get a replacement.”