Popular seaside resorts across the coast are proving a hit with passengers but have left town hall bosses fearing they will need extra cash to fund the concessionary travel scheme.

Fylde coast taxpayers are set to pick up a hefty part of a £2.3m bill for the soaring number of over 60s using the government initiative, which began in April.

Blackpool, Fylde and Wyre councils are preparing to join with other authorities in Lancashire to lobby Whitehall for more funding.

But there are no such cash concerns on the buses, where pensioners are enjoying the freedom afforded to them by free travel.

People onboard the Stagecoach route between Blackpool and Preston – which has seen a 25 per cent increase since April – have given the initiative a big thumbs up.

Mary O'Rourke (pictured above), 61, has repeatedly used the scheme to travel from her home in Oldham to her caravan at Peel Hill.

She said: "I think it is great.

"It has made a big difference. We can travel all over the country now."

Dorothy Eakin (pictured left), 70, of Claremont Court, North Shore, regularly uses the service to travel from Blackpool to Preston.

She said: "It has made a lot of difference.

"It is great for people who are on a pension and can't afford the bus fare to get them out and about.

"The local buses are fuller than ever."

Valerie and Donald Ashford, from North Drive in Cleveleys, have used free travel to visit Preston, Morecambe, Bury and Blackburn since the scheme began.

Valerie, 64, said: "It is wonderful – we are making the most of it while we can.

"We wouldn't use the service if it wasn't free.

"Please don't take it away from us – it is a lifeline for pensioners.

"If it is a miserable day you just think 'where can we go today?'"

Donald, 81, said: "I'm hoping it will get a few cars off the road.

"The government can't keep going on with more and more cars. If you go down to St Annes there are cars double parked on the roads."