THURROCK Council’s passenger transport unit will be automatically renewing thousands of older people’s concessionary bus passes in the coming weeks.

People who have a pass that expires on March 31 this year will not need to reapply or supply a new photo and the new pass - which is valid for another five years - will be sent to the registered home address.

The government launched its English national concessionary bus pass scheme in 2010 and those who had a bus pass under the previous scheme were also changed and will be automatically updated.

If anyone has changed address in the last two years they will need to tell Thurrock Council as soon as possible so the new pass is delivered to the correct address.

Failing to do this could lead to a £10 fee for a replacement.

People can download a change of address form by going to www.thurrock.gov.uk/buspass and clicking on renewing your bus pass.

Those who applied for their pass at another time will have them renewed when the five year limit is reached.