Outraged pensioners are demanding more funding to save a cut-price bus travel scheme.

They are furious concessionary fares with their Sussex Countycard are about scrapped on buses travelling before 9am because many older people need to get to hospital and other vital appointments early in the mornings.

They are calling on Brighton and Hove City Council to save the cheaper fares by putting up the money.

Until now, Brighton and Hove Bus and Coach Company has not set a time restriction for cut-price fares.

From April, men between 60 and 65 will have the same rights to cut-price travel as women aged over 60.

The move has prompted the bus company to axe its cheap fares for card holders, saying it cannot afford to subsidise such a large number of extra concessionary passengers at peak times, before 9am.

The law requires councils to subsidise cheap fares for older people from 9.30am but Brighton and Hove City Council and some district councils which are part of the scheme have agreed to subsidise the fare from 9am onwards.

Ted Kitchen, chairman of the Tenants' Association of Laburnum Grove sheltered housing, Hollingdean, said the bus fare to and from his hospital appointment in April would now cost him £3.50 instead of £1.25.

He and his neighbours were angry the early- morning concession was being withdrawn.

Mr Kitchen, 76, said: "It has always been elderly ladies who have at bus passes at 60. As soon as men get it, they can't afford it. We think it is sex discrimination.

"Why can't they leave the pensioners alone? Why do they need the extra 50p off the pensioner?

"There is one gentleman who has got a spare-time job. He catches the bus at 8am so he is going to have to pay a double rate."

Joan Moorhouse, transport spokesman for the Brighton and Hove Older People's Council, said older people also had commitments such as looking after grandchildren and working in charity shops.

The older people's council wants the city council to use money raised from parking offences, which it said would be ploughed back into public transport, to be used to subsidise the cheap fares before 9am.

Roger French, managing director of the bus company, approved of Mrs Moorhouse's idea to use cash from parking offences to subsidise cheap fares.

He said: "If there was recompence and if the council changed the scheme, clearly we would be obliged to follow suit.

"I feel a compromise might be to bring the time forward to 8.30am. That would give people time to get to hospital appointments. It would need all the councils to agree.

A city council spokeswoman said using money from parking offences was an option.