Bradford's bus passengers will be the first in the county to benefit from free travel vouchers if their journeys are delayed.

The vouchers - similar to those offered to rail travellers when their journeys are disrupted - will be introduced from Monday for passengers on the city's new Sovereign buses.

The announcement has been welcomed by travellers and passenger watchdogs, but they say the system should be extended to all bus services.

It means passengers on Bradford Traveller's new Sovereign buses who arrive at their destination more than 15 minutes late will get vouchers, if it is the company's fault.

Travellers will also be compensated if heaters on the buses are not working. Passengers will get the vouchers if the service is late because:

* Buses depart early from stops.

* Vehicles fail to arrive.

* Buses break down.

But the company will not take responsibility for circumstances outside its control which prevent the company from running the buses safely - such as security alerts, industrial disputes or freak weather.

But today a row erupted over the scheme after a transport chief warned passengers on older buses would be angry they were not included in the compensation project.

The first Sovereign super bus will run on Monday on the X6 Huddersfield-Bradford-Leeds route.

A further 46 vehicles will be introduced gradually across the district this year in a programme to replace the district's current 220-strong fleet.

Chairman of Bradford Council's transportation, planning and design committee, Councillor Latif Darr, welcomed the scheme which is included in a new passengers' charter.

But he said: "I think it should be extended to all the Bradford Traveller journeys because it will cause bad feeling that some passengers will get it while others won't."

But Bradford Travel marketing officer Brandon Jones said: "Unfortunately we can't put it on all services overnight. Our hope is that we will never have to use it. There will be 46 new buses coming into Bradford this year and we think it is a really great start."

West Yorkshire Passenger Consultative Committee member the Rev Geoff Reid said: "I think it would be better to concentrate on an environment which would be friendly to public transport rather than concentrate on what would happen if things went wrong."

Bradford bus passengers welcomed the plans. But travellers who took part in a Telegraph & Argus straw poll said the scheme should be broadened.

Police station worker Rebecca Broadley, 21, of Cleckheaton, said: "If they're going to give travel vouchers out, they should give them to all passengers.

Student Matthew Storey, 20, of Wibsey, said: "Buses always seem to be late so I think it's a great idea that travellers can get some compensation."

Clerk Gillian Hutton, of Little Horton, Bradford, said: "If a bus makes people late then they should get something back."

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