PENSIONERS are being left standing in the cold and rain while they are refused rides on empty buses because of a restriction on their free passes, it has been claimed.

Last month, pensioners were given bus passes allowing them to travel free on buses after 9.30am on week days.

But 75-year-old Derek Bird, from Liden, said the off-peak restriction meant elderly people were being left behind by empty buses.

He said he accepted the system was designed to stop pensioners riding for free when seats were in demand for commuters.

But he wants the pension pass time brought forward to 9am, when commuters are at work.

"The buses are empty by 9am when the workers are already at work," said Mr Bird, a retired sales representative.

He said he had seen elderly men and women left standing in bad weather while empty buses pulled away from stops.

"A little old lady was in the rain when the bus was empty," he said.

The travel time was set at 9.30am by the Government, in line with peak hour in London, which lasts much longer.

And the times were then rolled out across the country.

"I can see why it's that way in London but not in little old Swindon," Mr Bird said.

"I think that it should be changed."

He said allowing pensioners on half an hour earlier would give them more travel options.

"Many old people are up at the crack of dawn," he said.

He rejected suggestions pensioners can pay if they need to travel earlier.

"Why should we buy tickets when we're on pensions with bus passes?" he said.

Swindon Council's Cabinet member for transport, highways and strategic planning, Coun Peter Greenhalgh said the council was abiding by Government rules.

He said the council would investigate whether it was possible to allow pensioners to travel for free earlier.

He said the Government had approved free bus travel for pensioners from 9.30am on week days and all day at weekends.

He said letting pensioners aboard the buses earlier would probably cost the council some money.

"I will be looking in to this matter ," said Coun Greenhalgh (Con, Freshbrook and Grange Park) .

"I will be looking at the cost, which would have to be met out of council taxes.

"It would have to be considered along with all the other demands there are for funding in the town budget.

"We could do it but we would have to pay."

A council spokesman said Swindon had worked with surrounding authorities so pensioners could travel beyond the town for free.

He said people were told of the 9.30am limit when they applied for their passes.