ACCORDING to the adage, you wait ages for one bus and then three come along at once. Not in Worcester - some do not turn up at all anymore.

The recent changes to the service have seen some routes being diverted or cut altogether prompting complaints and protest petitions. Although the bus "strategy" is the county council's responsibility, city councillors still have the chance to influence provision, principally through the concessionary fares scheme.

In one of its main manifesto pledges, Worcester's Labour candidates are backing free bus travel for all senior citizens.

"People notice when they go to other parts of the country, even to parts of the West Midlands, that they do not get anything like the same value of concessionary bus fares in Worcester," said Labour councillor, David Candler.

He added that his party is backing the additional park-and-ride stations and accused the Conservative-led council of lacking a "sense of urgency" on public transport matters.

That idea was dismissed by the council leader, Stephen Inman, who said he is backing a council survey of bus passenger numbers as a way to improve provision.

"Conservatives in Worcester believe in choice and that includes public transport and 'do-it-yourself' transport like cycling and walking. We are spending more money on cycle routes and walkways and the like," he said.

"The survey will perhaps show there are more elderly people using the buses and we can go back to the bus companies and the county council and give them evidence of a firm demand."

Mike Layland, Independent candidate for the Nunnery ward, wondered whether funds could be redirected to help residents like those in his ward who have no alternatives to buses.

"We are losing £210,000 a year on park-and-ride and to no benefit to the citizens of Worcester - wouldn't that be better off providing better buses in the city?" he asked.

The city's Liberal Democrats said they view public transport as "vital" to Worcester's prosperity.

"We support the initiatives to encourage sustainable travel but insist that reduced car use must not be accompanied by a decrease in economic activity," said party candidate Paul Griffiths.

He added that the group is backing the campaign for a Worcester Parkway railway station and looking into yellow school buses.