OLDER people can enjoy a longer day of Christmas shopping in Salisbury using their free bus pass - thanks to a handy tip from a Wiltshire councillor.

Since the 265 Bath to Salisbury First bus service was cut from every hour to every two hours in April, the first bus where the free pass was valid all the way did not get to the city until mid-day.

But now Cllr Horace Prickett, the council’s Portfolio Holder for Transport, has worked out that people can travel earlier in the day, using the bus which comes through west Wiltshire between 8-9am - because when it gets to Warminster, all they have to do is validate their free bus pass, which then covers the rest of the journey.

Cllr Prickett explained that if senior bus pass holders get the bus, for example from Trowbridge at 8.18am, they can buy a single ticket to Warminster for £5 instead of paying the £6 fare to Salisbury, arriving just after 10am.

"Having less bus journeys is always going to be a blow but all is not lost as they do not have to wait until 10.31am at Trowbridge for a free bus," he said.

"The bus arrives to Market Place in Warminster at around 9.10am when the bus becomes the 9.11am to Salisbury, on which a senior national bus pass holder’s ticket becomes valid.

"So people should stay on the bus but make sure you validate your pass with a ticket officer on the bus before going on to Salisbury for free.

"You will arrive in Salisbury just after 10am, more than two hours earlier than otherwise possible. With the days getting shorter with the light, it is important to make the most of the day so they can get their Christmas shopping or just go round the city.

"You can then stay in the city until 6.05pm with a free journey home. Eight hours in Salisbury for a fiver is not too bad at all and it will be cheaper if you are coming from Westbury for example.

"I have been telling as many people about this as possible, it definitely works. If you can save a bit of money for shopping that is good."