Bradford musician and poet Karl Dallas, 77, is celebrating free bus travel for pensioners which started today by touring the country to advertise it.

He will cross England by bus without having to worry about travel expenses after free local bus travel for pensioners became a reality today. And he will be campaigning for the privilege to be extended to the railways too.

He has written some lyrics especially to mark the occasion called Freedom to Ride, set to the tune of the Beatles' Ticket to Ride.

This month he will take in English venues including Leeds, Huddersfield, Bridlington, York, Bristol, the Forest of Dean in Gloucestershire, Devizes and Swindon in Wiltshire and Croydon in London - all on buses.

Mr Dallas, 77, said: "Lots of my fellow pensioners didn't know about it and so I am doing this off my own back so that people become aware of it. People are excited about it when they hear about it.

"I've been using the West Yorkshire buses and it's been extremely useful. As from today I can travel anywhere in England."

The free service for pensioners, blind and disabled passengers, can be used after 9.30am.

Mr Dallas is also campaigning for free bus travel for pensioners at any time, and he is looking to see the service extended to cover the whole of Great Britain and to cover rail travel.

He said: "I'm going to be taking around a petition to get these things seen to.

Mr Dallas is looking forward to the tour.

He said: "I'll be an expert on bus timetables by the time I'm finished.

"I'm using local bus services all the way and I'll be singing in the streets as well while I'm waiting for my buses.

"I can go anywhere as I don't have any travel expenses. Not bad for a man of 77."

A Department for Transport spokesman said: "We believe this is a fundamentally-important scheme that will help elderly and disabled people to travel more freely, such as visiting friends or family who live outside their local areas.

"Due in part to cost implications there are currently no plans to extend concessionary bus travel into peak times or on to other modes of transport.

"Local authorities still have the option, at their own expense, to extend the scheme for their residents. This is right because they know about local needs and circumstances.

"Concessionary travel is a devolved issue so the arrangements in Scotland and Wales differ from those in England."

Mr Dallas, who wrote his first song in 1951, will host an open mic night at St Paul's Church in Skinner Lane, Manningham, tomorrow at 8pm before he embarks on his English tour.

Singers, musicians and poets from all over Yorkshire will perform. Admission is free and there will be a collection for Medical Aid for Pakistan, where Karl sang in 2002 and 2004.

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