JACK ARCHER, 86, of Lindsey Avenue, Acomb, York, said he was satisfied but not overwhelmed by the budget.

Mr Archer, who worked at York Carriageworks before he retired, welcomed the free nationwide bus travel for pensioners, which is to be introduced in two years time.

But he said he did not feel had benefited as much as some other sectors of society.

He said: "It's good for education and families and people with children. The free bus travel countrywide is good, even if it's not until 2008. That's something positive, with which I'm pleased."

On the promise of free home insulation, Mr Archer said: "Whether he means all pensioners I do not know. Often, if you are not on benefits, you cannot even get the advice - or at least not to the same extent.

"We are also going to get winter fuel payments again, and we were not too sure about that before. That's a relief."

He said he would like to see pension increases back in line with earnings, rather than inflation, but accepted it was unlikely to happen.

He added: "Overall, I am quite satisfied.

"It's not wonderful, but it could have been a lot worse."

Updated: 10:55 Thursday, March 23, 2006