LAST May, the citizens of Worcester elected a Tory and Independent Party-controlled council after 20 years of successful Labour control. This year we are starting to see what that really means in cuts to services.

Despite the Mad Hatter-like promises of a new tax cut every day and no reduction in services from Hague and Portillo in Parliament, the reality when Tories are in power is very different.

Here in Worcester, the Tories in power, with the help of their allies the Independent Party, are cutting the value of bus passes for pensioners to the minimum permitted level established by the present Government.

The Government's half-fare scheme was brought in to force backward councils like Tory-controlled Malvern Hills to put in place a scheme for pensioners where none existed, not to ruin existing well-respected and managed schemes like Worcester's.

We know how valuable our city scheme has been to pensioners but they are now faced with having to pay a massive increase in their daily fares thanks to Tory/Independent policies. Today, the very young and the pensioners - tomorrow, who knows where the cuts will fall?

ROB PEACHEY,

Worcester.