The only town in Sussex to operate free bus passes is considering scrapping them next year in what would be the first cutback for a quarter of a century.

Crawley Council is looking into part-payment fare options on bus journeys around the town for pensioners and the disabled.

For the past 26 years they have enjoyed unlimited free travel which has been costing the council more than £1million annually. It is the largest single item in the council's annual budget.

Tonight, the council's Best Value Scrutiny Committee will study a review on concessionary fares and make recommendations to the Executive Committee for its January meeting.

Two of the three options to be considered would introduce either a flat rate fare for all journeys, or a charge based on a proportion of the standard fare. In both cases the maximum amount charged would be half-fare.

Under the third option free bus passes would continue but payment with the bus companies would be renegotiated and further improvements which could result in savings would be looked at.

The review document says: "If a half-fare scheme was introduced, the maximum fare would be 50p one-way and 70p two-way. This may start to disadvantage people on very low incomes and deter some essential trips. It may be considered prudent to charge 10p for the short hop journey."

It says a survey showed that people using the scheme regarded it as a benefit to which they were entitled. They regarded it as a form of income supplement.

Last year the council imposed a £5 charge for swipe cards for free travel which resulted in a drop of 1,000 people applying for passes. A total of 10,814 were issued.

A council spokeswoman said a survey had shown how little some people used their passes and how pass holders did not realise how much it was costing the council.

She said: "Most people use their passes two or three times a week, but a few people make five or six journeys a day.

"People who have the greatest need for bus passes, the frail or those on very low incomes, often cannnot physically use the buses. It is probably not a cost effective use of council money.

The council has warned that if no action is taken other services will have to be cut in order to make savings. The council also says that there are other needy groups it wants to target, such as the unemployed, children and people on low incomes.

But any suggestion that free travel for pensioners might end has angered members of Crawley Pensioners' Association.

Secretary Muriel Hirsch said: "Our members would be very angry and would probably take some action, like occupying buses.

"I know we are very lucky in Crawley but in many European countries travel is free for pensioners throughout the country."