Hold on to your ticket!

SHETLAND Islands Council is to start checking for the first time whether passengers have a valid ticket before they travel on the islands’ bus and ferry services.

From next Monday council staff will carry out spot checks on board a selection of buses and ferries, and will meet certain buses and check tickets as passengers disembark.

SIC transport chairman Michael Stout said the community wanted to be certain the council was collecting every fare after a series of consultations about budget cuts over the past few years.

“This is the first step in addressing this,” Stout said.

“It will be something new for people travelling in Shetland, but I’m sure passengers will quickly get used to it, and appreciate the need to keep hold of their tickets for inspection for their entire journey.”