I LIVE in Staunton-on-Wye where we only get three buses a day into Hereford. The first is too early for seniors, so the majority take the second bus.

We used to have a little moan among ourselves if the Yeomans bus was ever late or broke down, but at least we could always ring base and find out when it was coming.

When First took over the Almeley-Hereford route on September 1 we realised we had lost a very good thing.

The buses we have now are dreadful and uncomfortable, with hot air blasting out of the heating system during the September heat.

The seating configuration is wrong for a rural route, with wasted space and not enough seats when students are returning home in the afternoon, forcing people to stand.

On the first week of the new service, one bus started to smoke badly at the rear and we all had to get off and wait at the roadside. And the drivers don’t always stop when you ring the bell.

On a recent Wednesday the bus failed to go through Bishopstone where a schoolgirl passenger wanted to get off. She burst into tears when she realised she wasn’t going to get home any time soon.

We have a blind man in our village who travels into Hereford most days and on October 9 he waited in the pouring rain for the bus which went right past his extended arm without stopping. He then had to ask a neighbour to take him into Hereford for an important appointment.

P JOHNSTONE Staunton-on-Wye