FREE bus travel for pensioners should be protected by law, Scottish Labour has said.

The party’s transport spokesman Colin Smyth announced plans on Saturday to seek to amend legislation to enshrine free travel as a legal right when Holyrood returns from recess.

He said: “Sadly, the scheme is now under threat with SNP ministers refusing to rule out increasing the age citizens can qualify for a pass in a bid to try and save money.

“Ordinary people in their 60s should not be paying the price of Tory austerity because the SNP refuse to use the powers of the Parliament to fund our services properly.

“That is why Labour will table amendments which would enshrine the qualifying age for older people into law if passed by Parliament.

“Labour will continue to fight for a publicly owned transport system that works for the many, not just the few.”

Scottish Labour also wants free bus travel extended to others including apprentices and companions travelling with disabled children.

The Scottish government recently carried out a consultation on raising the age of eligibility for the bus pass from 60 to 65.

A Transport Scotland spokesman said: “We are already committed to providing free bus travel for older and disabled people and everyone who has a bus pass will keep it.

“We analysed nearly 3,000 responses received to our recent public consultation on possible changes to the scheme and are considering what respondents have said.

“As previously outlined in our consultation on concessionary travel, we are considering free bus travel for modern apprentices alongside the provision of companion cards for eligible disabled children aged under five who are not currently covered by the scheme.

“We are committed to supporting services and tackling the historic decline in bus passenger numbers.”

Free bus passes for the over-60s and disabled people were introduced to Scotland in 2006, when a Labour-led administration controlled the Holyrood government.