Delays of more than a month in processing the passes are due to a communication error, according to South Holland District Council.

The council claims it has had trouble contacting supplier Fujitsu to process new orders, but Fujitsu insists it has not been told of any problems and that SHDC is to blame.

The new passes, introduced on April 1, enable anyone over the age of 60 and people with certain disabilities to free bus travel anywhere in the country after 9.30am and all day at weekends and bank holidays.

The council is considering extending the hours at its own expense.

Linda Cage, from Sutton Bridge, applied for a pass on April 15 after turning 60 and has still not had hers. She was initially told it would take a few days but after making a complaint has now been told it will not arrive until the end of May.

Her husband John has a temporary pass but Mrs Cage does not qualify for one because this is her first application.

She said: "When I reached 60 I thought 'OK, well I've reached old age but at least I am going to get a free bus pass' and I am annoyed at how long it is taking."

Council head of legal and member services Jim Scarsbrook said: "We are having difficulties in contacting Fujitsu, which is affecting the time it takes to process the remaining applications.

"We are trying to work our way around these problems and, with the help of Fujitsu, hope to get passes out to those still waiting for them as soon as possible."

Fujitsu denied it.

A spokesman said: "The council sent us 148 new records at the end of April and they were all sent out by May 2.

"When we had 2.6 million applications to do at the start it was taking a long time but now it is just a steady trickle and as soon as we have them in the system is moving quickly."