WORCESTER City has 17,504 people aged 60 and over and there are 13,386 aged more than 65.

These pensioners could well feel betrayed by cabinet members of Worcester Council, who, having conducted a consultation, produced a scheme with the bus pass rising from £8 to £12, a huge 50 per cent increase.

Councillors on all sides were eager to debate car-park charges, but when it came to pensioners' bus passes, only the Independent councillors via Mike Layland addressed the full council meeting to offer any opposition to these savage increases.

BRIAN HUNT,

Worcester.