DISABLED people in a North Yorkshire town will be able to claim subsidised taxi fares from next month.

The new scheme will enable residents with severe mobility problems in the Easingwold area to buy vouchers giving them half-price taxi fares from April 1.

They can be used in taxis run by any of 32 participating companies in the Hambleton area.

They will also be accepted by the Community Car scheme, which is popular in Easingwold.

Local residents will be able to buy vouchers worth up to £30 for half-price travel, with those in surrounding rural areas being able to buy up to £60-worth of vouchers.

The new voucher initiative will run alongside the council concessionary bus pass scheme.

June Imeson, Hambleton District Council leader said: "The bus pass scheme has been working successfully for some time now but we need to ensure that these people are not excluded from concessionary travel. This scheme is the starting point from which we can build. Once we have monitored its take-up we can see if we need to increase the vouchers on offer."

The bus pass is already used by almost 7,000 residents, and will be available for men over 60 for the first time next month.

Updated: 10:51 Tuesday, March 11, 2003