Older people in the Vale of Evesham could be carrying smartcards entitling them to concessions on public transport within the next few months.

Wychavon District Council is reviewing its concessionary fares scheme in a bid to make it more efficient and cost effective.

The system, which has been operating in the Wychavon area for a number of years, currently offers anyone over the age of 60 and some people with disabilities a choice of one transport concession from three options.

Eligible people can either choose a free bus pass entitling them to half fares throughout Worcestershire and adjoining counties; or National Transport Tokens for use on buses and trains and with some taxi companies, or car park tickets in all Wychavon car parks.

The council's Democratic Services Manager, Amanda de Warr, said: "The Concessionary Fares Scrutiny Team came together in the summer to look at how the scheme works and whether it is the best way it could run."

In its report to Wychavon's executive board last week the team recommended there should be no changes to the current scheme at present and that the council reviewed the system, including the car parking ticket funding, following the introduction of smartcards.

The council, together with other members of the South Worcestershire Partnership for Concessionary Travel, is currently looking at introducing smartcards to replace the current bus passes. They could also be used instead of the transport tokens at a later date.

The cards would carry the holder's photograph and could last for three to five years. Miss de Warr said it would help to eliminate any abuse of the concessionary scheme.

"We are aware that some abuse of the current scheme takes place and it is very difficult for us to police. Sometimes people do not realise they are abusing the scheme by passing on to someone else a concession they have not used.

"We rely on people's honesty but we are concerned about it because it is public money and the scheme is quite expensive to run. Smartcards would make it easier for us to ensure that the right person is using them."