The Liberal Democrat campaign for the Government to give councils a fair deal on bus passes has achieved the backing of a prominent Member of Parliament.

The Government's national scheme for bus passes is due to lump council tax payers across the country - including Harlow - with a bill of up to £60 million, according to new research by the Liberal Democrats.

Sussex MP Norman Baker said that, while the scheme would help many poor pensioners, terrible accounting from the Government means it will be council tax payers who will end up picking up the bill. He said the Government should review the funding formula.