The passes are for five years and will expire in March 2013.

The Government has announced changes to the scheme which will come into force from April 1 - and will now give holders free bus travel anywhere throughout England but this does not include national coach services.

Free bus travel is available to those aged over 60 and for people with certain disabilities who live within the Tendring district.

Tendring District Council (TDC) will automatically send out the new passes to all existing holders without them even needing to contact the Council. Pass holders who have moved house should contact the Clacton Cash Office with their new address if they have not already done so.

However, those whose 60th birthday occurs before the end of March should apply now to ensure they get their pass in time for April 1.

Operating hours for the passes will also be changing and they will be valid from 9.30am to 11pm on normal weekdays and at anytime at weekends and on public holidays. Up until April 1 passes have operated between 9am and midnight on weekdays.

Lawrie Payne, Portfolio Holder for Benefits and Revenues at TDC, said that Tendring has the highest number of pass holders in Essex.

"We have more than 30,000 and that figure is expected to rise to about 36,000 by the end of March 2009," he said.

Tendring also has 275 Companion Pass holders. These passes can be issued to disabled pass holders who need help to travel by bus and provide free travel for the companion whilst travelling with the pass holder.

A charge of £30 is to be introduced for Companion Passes - pro-rata per annum if they are to be for less than five years.

Cllr Payne said that many authorities do not provide these passes at all as they are discretionary.

"Where these passes are provided the charge is usually more than is being introduced in Tendring," he added. "Some charge £30 a year - the cost Tendring is asking for five years. It actually equates to 50p per month over the life of the pass."

Cllr Payne said that the Council will still be picking up 90 per cent of the annual cost of Companion Passes and have written to all 275 holders with full details of the scheme.

These passes will only be valid for journeys which start in Tendring - not throughout Essex as currently applies. However, there will be a reciprocal arrangement operated with Colchester to accept Companion Passes in both areas.