CHORLEY MP Lindsay Hoyle is pressing Chancellor Gordon Brown to support his scheme for free off-peak travel for pensioners using public transport.

Mr Hoyle has presented a 3,000 name petition to Parliament supporting the scheme which already operates in certain areas.

In London pensioners travel free on all public transport after 9am In Wales pensioners are entitled to a free bus pass and there are concessionary schemes in many metropolitan areas, including Greater Manchester.

Mr Hoyle wants to see the anomalies ended and has appealed to the Chancellor to provide the necessary funding.

"I believe that pensioners will benefit greatly from free off-peak travel and the cost of such a scheme will be well worth paying," he said.