A PENSIONER who travelled the length of England using a network of local buses, has embarked on a new journey to test the free bus-pass a year after it was introduced.

Manju Ghosh, aged 62, and friend, Christine Jackson, travelled from Berwick to Land’s End last year, to celebrate the introduction of the Government’s National Bus Travel Concession scheme.

It allows people aged 60 and over and the disabled to travel for free on buses between 9.30am and 11pm on weekdays, and all day at weekends and Bank Holidays.

After hearing much criticism of the scheme in the media in recent months, the two friends decided to see how well it was working one year on.

The latest trip started on Wednesday, this time travelling from Dover to Gretna.

Mrs Ghosh, who lives in Lostock, said: “We had so much fun last year we thought we would try it again.

“We wanted to know what it was like a year later, especially after hearing so much about councils wanting to charge pensioners. It’s been interesting so far.”

This year’s route, which takes in 41 buses, goes from Dover to Canterbury, London, St Albans, Cambridge, Bedford, Coventry, Birmingham, Shrewsbury, Manchester, Bolton, Kendal, Carlisle and Gretna.

They left Dover on April 1 and plan to arrive in Bolton on Monday evening, before weaving their way up to Gretna by Wednesday. They are staying with friends along the way and spend a few hours exploring the towns and cities they travel through.

Mrs Ghosh, a former consultant at Wigan Infirmary, said: “We really enjoyed getting buses through London. They come every few minutes. The friendly bus drivers have been the highlight of this trip so far.”