More than 14,000 people have signed a petition calling for Norfolk County Council to be given enough money to cover the cost of free bus passes.

The council launched the petition because it has a �4.5 million shortfall in what it gets from the government and what it has to pay bus operators to ferry bus pass holders about.

Cumbria County Council has now joined the Fair Fares campaign, launched at the end of September.

Somerset County Council has signed the petition, while Cheshire West and Chester Council is supporting the campaign.

Devon County Council, The Campaign for Better Transport and the Local Government Association's Public Transport Consortium have also previously backed it.

Graham Plant, cabinet member for planning and transportation at Norfolk County Council, said: 'This campaign is gathering momentum and support from right across the country.'

County council staff and members will be collecting more signatures at Market Gates bus station in Great Yarmouth between 10am to 2pm tomorrow and at Norwich bus station between 11am and 2pm on Saturday.

The e-petition can be signed at www.norfolk.gov.uk or at county council libraries.