VAL Cleaver is quite right to complain about the unnecessary rises in Worcester's bus fares. The increases will hit hard against those worst off.

First Bus doesn't increase fares because it has to but to maintain those juicy profits for shareholders which have become such a feature of the bus industry since privatisation. The old Labour city council stood up well against bus companies in this area and won the citizens a good deal.

Gary Kibblewhite is the Tory Chairman now responsible for such things, so why can't he do the same? Or is it only taxis he's worried about?

JUNE TYLER,

Linden Road,

Worcester.