DRUG and alcohol abusers will keep their free travel passes when they come up for renewal in February.

The Freedom Pass allows people with disabilities to travel free on London transport. But tighter government guidelines on issuing them meant that 200 Ealing residents feared that their pass would not be renewed after expiring on March 31.

But councillors met on Thursday last week (Jan 31) and decided that everyone currently holding a Pass will be allowed to keep it. Council leader, Cllr John Cudmore, said: "We feel it would be inappropriate to exclude those with a Freedom Pass who are used to qualifying for it."

Nearly 40,000 elderly and disabled residents held a Freedom Pass in Ealing in 2001. Each Pass costs the council £150.