South Yorkshire’s “Freedom Riders” marched through Barnsley at the weekend demanding restoration of free public transport for pensioners.

Concessionary travel for pensioners and disabled people in South Yorkshire was axed by transport authority bosses because of government cuts.

Since March, 50 to 60 pensioners and disabled people have been boarding trains from Barnsley to Sheffield every week and refusing to pay. They call themselves Freedom Riders.

Transport chiefs did a partial U-turn by restoring free transport for disabled people, but the Freedom Riders’ campaign goes on.

Two Freedom Riders, pensioners George Arthur, 64, and Tony Nuttall, 65, were manhandled and arrested by British Transport Police for alleged “obstruction” during a rally at Sheffield station. They will be tried in October.

Speakers on Saturday included Tosh McDonald, vice-president of train drivers’ union Aslef, which has supported the Freedom Riders from the outset.

“The Freedom Riders have shown a fantastic spirit,” he said. “My union is behind you. Our fight is your fight and your fight is our fight.”

Mr Arthur condemned operating company Northern Rail for bringing in police and security staff “to bully older and disabled people carrying out peaceful protests.”

He said: “They have paid people to check tickets at Barnsley railway station seven days a week, whereas there were none before. What a waste of money! Why don’t they fund our travel passes instead?”

Mr Arthur added that Northern Rail’s actions reinforced the need for renationalistion of the railways.