London Councils (LC) has rubbished claims from Transport for London (TfL) that the Freedom Pass for pensioners and the disabled is under threat.

The pass provides free Tube, bus, DLR and tram travel after 9am and is used by more than 60,000 people in Wandsworth and Lambeth.

TfL and LC currently negotiate the budget for the pass together but if no agreement is reached by December 31 each year, TfL has the right to employ a special reserve scheme so they can decide on the amount of money allocated.

But TfL claim the LC wants to intervene to take the reserve scheme out of Ken Livingstone's hands as part of a national travel bill.

If this happens, the mayor would be powerless to stop local councils choosing a new set of rules governing concessionary travel schemes.

Mr Livingstone said: "It has taken the new leadership of LC just eight months to reveal their intent to remove the ability of the Mayor of London to guarantee the Freedom Pass.

"I will do everything within my power to defend the free travel schemes in London.

"The reserve scheme means that no matter how much disagreement there is in the borough councils, I can guarantee the Freedom Pass.

"Nothing should be done to put its continuation at risk.

"This means, in practical terms that the mayor and TfL must continue to be able to guarantee the scheme."

But a spokesman for Wandsworth Council said contrary to the mayor's claims, the council has no intention of withdrawing the privilege for pensioners and the disabled to travel for free.

And chairman of London Councils' transport and environment committee, Councillor Daniel Moylan, said: "The fact that TfL has the power to set the amount boroughs pay for the Freedom Pass means that negotiations with TfL are like having a gun held to one's head.

"The Mayor knows the Freedom Pass is not under threat.

"It is a borough scheme and has run perfectly well for decades without input from him."