IN the interests of safety, I wonder if bus operators Blackburn Transport and Lancashire United would accept each other's return-leg return tickets on common routes and common boarding and alighting points after, say 7pm?

This would cut the amount of time waiting at 'hotspots' at night -- Blackburn Boulevard for example -- and would be of particular benefit for women and pensioners travelling alone.

Perhaps a member of the crime prevention department of the police could broker the 'deal.'

The scheme could apply to any route, but in particular would help on the Darwen, Blackburn, Accrington route.

I hesitate to suggest that the arrangement could include train ticket returns on buses or bus ticket returns on trains, but if the scheme prevents just one mugging or sexual assault it will be worth it.

D PRATT (Mr), Plantation Street, Accrington.