A pensioner's leader has accused Oxford City Council of incompetence after learning hundreds of its members had not received passes for the free national bus service which begins today.

Bill Jupp, the Oxford branch secretary of the Transport and General Workers Retired Members Association, said it was not good enough that about half its members had not yet received the passes which entitle over-60s to free off-peak bus journeys.

The council says it has sent out more than 96 per cent of 18,000 bus passes, but Mr Jupp says it should have happened sooner, as the scheme was first announced by the Government in November 2006.

Mr Jupp, who represents more than 800 Oxford pensioners, said: "It's sheer incompetence. I have spoken to lots of our members from all over the city and so far more than half of them have not received the pass.

"It is a complete foul-up. This scheme was announced almost two years ago so the council have had long enough to get this organised. They should have sent them out months ago to make sure these delays didn't happen."

"These people are being paid to do a job and they are not doing it."

The 76-year-old, who is still yet to receive his own pass, added: "I will raise merry hell if I can't use my old pass - as far as I'm concerned it is now valid on buses all around the country and I'm in the right by law."

The city council said almost all its passes had been sent out, bar a few exceptions, but carers would still have to wait some weeks to receive their passes.

The Vale of White Horse District Council said 15,456 passes were sent out second class on Thursday, with 1,076 to be sent tomorrow.

South Oxfordshire District Council said it had issued 12,400 new passes, but due to printing problems about eight per cent (992 cards) had been delayed. Cherwell and West Oxfordshire district councils were unable to give figures.

Shey Cobley, Oxford City Council spokesman, said: "All councils have had to overcome a number of implementation problems in order to issue the new national bus passes. Oxford City Council has been more successful than some."

  • One man who has already got his pass is putting it to good use tomorrow by taking a mammoth ten and half hour journey to Crewe using only local buses. Roger Jenking, a 60-year-old, from Joan Lawrence Place, said: "I'm really looking forward to it."

From today anyone who is aged over 60 or disabled is entitled to free off-peak local bus travel anywhere in England.

The new national bus pass entitles anyone to free local bus travel from 9.30am to 11pm Monday to Friday and throughout weekends and public holidays. Oxford City and South and West Oxfordshire district councils are running the scheme from 9am and meeting the extra cost themselves but Cherwell and the Vale are not following suit.

The delay in receiving the new passes has angered pensioners. Michael Moss,66, of Normandy Crescent, Cowley, said: "It's a real shambles to be honest. I've really been looking forward to getting my pass, but it still hasn't arrived.

"Who's to say when it will turn up?"