MORE than 10,000 of York's senior citizens will visit the Guidhall over the next three weeks to collect their concessionary bus tokens.

While they are there, council chiefs are giving them a chance to benefit from a new information fair designed to raise awareness of services for people over the age of 60.

The fair, an initiative from the York Older People's Assembly, is taking place every weekday until Thursday, April 17.

It features more than 15 stalls provided by public sector and voluntary organisations including Age Concern, Shopmobility, the Pensions Service and Older Citizens Advocacy York.

Penny Hutchinson, co-ordinator for the assembly, said: "The fair is the result of a survey at last year's event to find out what issues were of concern to older people in the city.

"One issue which scored highly on the survey was 'getting information about what's available to York's older people'.

"We are delighted so many local voluntary and statutory organisations who are involved with older people have signed up to book a space at the information fair."

For the first time this year, men between the age of 60 and 65 in York will receive concessionary bus fares. Men over 60 are now eligible for half-price bus travel on many local bus services in York and North Yorkshire.

The fair is open between 9am and 4pm. Anyone wanting further details, or a postal application, should call 01904 554466.

Updated: 11:07 Saturday, March 29, 2003