Ipswich Borough Council has today handed a lifeline to thousands of senior citizens who face delays in receiving their new concessionary bus passes.
Like other councils in Suffolk, the Borough used a commercial card handling organisation to handle production and distribution of the new cards but has been informed that delays meant they would not be delivered on time.
But the 20,000 card-holders in Ipswich have been reassured that their old cards, which run out on 31st March, will be valid on all Suffolk bus journeys until the end of April.
A spokesman said: "We have received many calls from worried customers and we want to get the message across that they will be all right to continue travelling. It is very frustrating when big contracts like this are hit by delays outside our control but we are pleased to have found a solution and hope the new cards will be received in early April."
Millions of cards are set to be posted in the next week across the UK.