One of the Welsh Assembly's most popular schemes is causing councils to dig into their own funds to subsidise.

First Minister Rhodri Morgan announced free bus passes for the elderly and disabled earlier this year.

But the demand for the free passes has proved so great, councils are warning that subsidies for the scheme are coming at the expense of other services.

Who goes free

Disabled people Men aged 65 or over Women aged 60 or over

Now local authorities - who started out in 2001 with a concessionary scheme - are urging the Welsh Assembly Government to pump more money into the project to avoid embarrassment.

Mr Morgan was particularly pleased to be able to announce �17.7m scheme, benefiting up to 600,000 pensioners, in April this year.

The highest demand for the passes has come from urban areas, including Rhondda Cynon Taf and Cardiff.

Pauline Jarman: 'Rising costs'

Both authorities say may have to find �2m from other budgets if further funding from the assembly is not made available.

Bridgend council has also reported that since the launch of the scheme, demand for bus passes has risen threefold.

RCT council leader Pauline Jarman said: "Our authority is currently �2m out of pocket and rising. The scheme is a success and very welcome, but the government must do more to fund it."

But Assembly Local Government Minister Sue Essex responded by disputing the councils' claims.

Ms Essex said: "We have funded the scheme very generously. We gave a supplementary budget a few weeks ago."

" The minister added the problems lay with how the money was distributed to local authorities.

But some councils insist, if the assembly wants the credit for the policy it should come up with the cash.

People in Wales are the latest to enjoy free bus travel

The scheme will mean hundreds of thousands of people will have prices waived.

Senior citizens, those aged 65 and over, in Northern Ireland have been enjoying free public transport since 1 October last year.

That scheme was paid for by the Northern Ireland Executive, but local Age Concern groups have complained it does not extend to all pensioners.

All Scottish OAPs will benefit in the autumn from a similar pledge, made back in 2000 along with the assembly's commitment.