Bus and train tickets may soon be a thing of the past in rural parts of Cumbria.

Council bosses want to introduce a multi-million pound smart card scheme to do away with traditional tickets.

The computer chip-controlled card will confirm any concessions and also bill the relevant authority for its share of transport subsidies.

Cumbria County Council says it will fund �1.2m of the �4.3m project, the rest coming from grants and central government.

'Modern technology'

The county council's cabinet will discuss the plan on Tuesday.

A council spokesman said: "The project uses modern technology to improve public transport, particularly in rural areas.

"The card will contain a computer chip, which will tell equipment on the bus or the train about the individual concerned.

"It would also tell the transport operator which local council should be subsiding the fare as well as letting the council know where its money is being spent."

Cumbria is one of a handful of authorities are close to piloting the project across the North West.