I HAVE never had any desire to own or drive a car: I have always been an enthusiastic user and defender of public transport. However, Stagecoach are rapidly showing me the error of my ways.

Since their 'rationalisation' of services in September, I have to leave home 20 minutes earlier in the morning, hoping the bus will be on time - 43 minutes is my longest wait so far.

Similarly, after work I now have to wait 30 minutes instead of 15, assuming the bus turns up at all. One Saturday, the bus was cancelled without warning or apology. After a further 20 minutes wait I, and others, caught a different service, which meant an additional half mile walk home in the dark.

Since de-regulation and Stagecoach's virtual monopoly of bus services in East Lancashire, there seems no way to make any effective complaint. We can hardly take our custom elsewhere.

As we see Blackburn's roads becoming ever more congested with the resultant pollution, noise and stress, perhaps we should consider how many former-bus passengers are driven to distraction and to the private car, by an increasingly unreliable service concerned only with maximising its profits.

KATHLEEN HOOPER, Stanhill Village, Oswaldtwistle.

FOOTNOTE: Stagecoach Ribble operations director Trevor Roberts, said: "It is difficult to comment without specific details of the services and particular times of travel required.

"I would be happy to investigate specific details to see if the travel arrangements can be resolved."

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.