A WYRE Forest concessionary travel scheme should not be swapped for a county-wide system that could encourage people to shop elsewhere, Wyre Forest District Council has agreed.

Councillors who want people to shop locally have rejected the idea of joining a proposed Worcestershire County Council scheme that could extend as far as Birmingham and the Black Country.

But under the Transport Act 2000 elderly people in Wyre Forest and others entitled to the lower fares can have the choice of a free travel permit that will allow travel within the district at half price.

The council's policy and implementation committee meeting agreed, however, a small increase in the minimum fee for concessionary travel to 35p.

The rise is the first for four years.

The cost of permits for the existing scheme issued in June remains at £5.