The future of the MiCard scheme is due to be decided at a meeting of Barnsley Youth Council next month.

The card has until now given under 18s free bus travel from 9am to 9pm during the weekend, and all times at weekends, meaning they could get home from school for free.

The council has said it needs to slash £1m from the costs of the scheme, so the benefits it offers will have to be reduced. Members of Barnsley Youth Council have been told they can choose what the card will give them in future from a list of options drawn up by the council.

The options are:

•A 30p flat rate fare at all times.

•A reduction in MiCard hours, meaning free travel from 5pm until 9pm on school days, 9am to 9pm on non school days, free weekends, but 60p at all other times.

•A 20p fare during the existing MiCard hours, from 9am to 9pm on school days and any time at weekends, 60p at other times.

The three options have been designed to cost roughly the same - about £1m a year less than keeping the existing scheme. It was due to cost £2m this financial year under the current rules. It is used by 67 per cent of young people in the borough.

The youth council has already discussed the options and will make its final decision at its meeting next month.

Children's services director Judith Harwood said: "I was really impressed by the sophisticated and detailed decision making process undertaken by the young people.

"In particular they considered how their decision would impact on the young people who they are elected to represent and they approached the whole matter with integrity and a sound moral approach."