HUNDREDS of elderly bus passengers travelling from the west side of Worcester are celebrating after hearing they will soon have a less tiring journey into the city.

In the past the pensioners have had to appeal to drivers to set them down by the Angel Mall, in Worcester to avoid being dropped off at the bottom of the CrownGate Bus Station and having to walk up the steep hill.

They have been battling for two years to try and change the situation.

City councillors finally gave them a better ticket to ride at a meeting of the transportation sub-committee after agreeing to introduce a setting-down point in Angel Place.

Pensioner Harry Gilbert, who represented more than 300 of his peers at the meeting, said that it was the end of a two-year battle.

"We're very pleased," said Mr Gilbert, of St Clements Close, St John's.

"Everyone is glad that finally the buses will have to stop when you ring the bell."

He told councillors that they were making "heavy weather of a little job".

"Our bus stops are the very last two in the bus station," he said.

"This stop would mean they won't have to cross Angel Place or walk up the steep hill."

The sub-committee decided that although there are plans to narrow the pavement at Angel Mall the bus-stop will go ahead as soon as possible.

"This is already a voluntary setting down point," said Coun Richard Udall, who has supported the pensioners' appeal.

"Some drivers co-operate, some don't.

"A bus stop is all that they're asking for so they don't have to walk up that steep hill to get to the shops."

There were some concerns that pensioners alighting at Angel Mall would encounter difficulty crossing Angel Street to reach the market.

"Someone would come back to say that we supported it if something went wrong," said PC Mike Digger, traffic management officer at Worcester police.

"We're trying to provide a safe facility. We all accept there is a need there."

The bus stop is due to be in place before April.