Very few taxi firms in Abingdon are accepting travel tokens brought in to reduce the amount of cash pensioners carry with them.

The travel tokens scheme is used by more than 200 local authorities across England but the Oxford Mail could only find one firm willing to accept them instead of cash.

Abingdon Taxis, which also owns Auto Taxis and Busby's Taxis, has said it has no problems accepting the tokens.

Driver Mick Fryett accepts the tokensPensioners have said they feel discriminated against after several companies refused to accept their concessionary travel tokens.

Four taxi drivers turned away 62-year-old Rosina Parker when she asked if they accepted travel tokens issued by the Vale of White Horse District Council.

Mrs Parker and her husband, Derek, of Sycamore Crescent in Radley, near Abingdon, were trying to return home after a coach holiday to Cornwall.

According to Mr Parker, 67, the coach left him and his wife at a designated drop-off point in Stratton Way, Abingdon.

Mrs Parker then walked to the taxi-rank in East St Helen Street because her husband has difficulty walking. Each of the four taxi drivers she approached refused to take them because they wanted to pay for their journey in tokens.

Mr Parker said: "The driver who eventually brought us back told us that one of these taxi drivers usually accepted tokens, but as it was a busy Saturday he could pick up fares easy enough in cash rather than tokens."

Mr Parker said he appreciated that help with travel expenses was a privilege, but added that it was ridiculous that so many cab drivers were refusing to accept the tokens.

Jason Atherton, owner of Abingdon Taxis, based on the Radley Road Industrial Estate, said his firm accepted the tokens, although he understood why many independent drivers and smaller firms did not.

According to Mr Atherton, the district council now issues national travel tokens, worth 50p each. Taxi firms reclaim fares by posting the tokens to Lancashire, but they can only be cashed in when a minimum of £75-worth have been collected.

Under the district council's own concessionary travel scheme, which was replaced by the national tokens in April this year, taxi firms were paid a handling charge. They now receive no extra payment, although the cost of postage is refunded.

Mr Atherton said: "We have no problem accepting the tokens, but for smaller taxi firms and one-man bands it can take them weeks to get the money back."

Shirley Entwistle, assistant director of the benefits department at the council, said the national tokens scheme is used by more than 200 local authorities.

Taxi firms were invited to a conference last year about the National Transport Token Company, but Miss Entwistle said the turn-out was disappointing.

She said: "Although the company has set a minimum value of tokens, if any operators are having difficulties saving up £75-worth, arrangements can be made for them to redeem smaller amounts."