A MAN says he and his wife were forced to endure an "obnoxious" stench on a National Express coach journey for around two and a half hours.

Former probation officer Peter Hill and wife Margaret, 71, of Meadowsweet Road, Poole, decided to take a National Express coach back to Poole after a trip to see West End show Blood Brothers.

The couple noticed the smell emanating from the toilets shortly after boarding the 035 13.20 service from Hammersmith to Poole last Tuesday.

Mr Hill, a shareholder of the company, has written to National Express to complain and is demanding that coaches should be subject to periodic hygiene checks.

Earlier this month Gerry Price, head of engineering at National Express, apologised to customers after the Echo reported how they had to stuff T-shirts into their faces to escape a stench on another coach trip from London.

Mr Hill said: "We smelt it more or less as the coach started off. The coach was virtually full on a hot spring afternoon.

"The toilet stench was obnoxious, particularly when the vehicle cornered or went around a bend.

"Surely there must be some action authorities can take against the company for forcing people to endure such conditions.

"We were about three seats from the rear of the coach and it is at the rear where the toilet is. Who wants to travel with a pronounced toilet smell? And it's not only the smell, it gives cause to think about the health hazard.

"My wife has a heart condition and was quite upset."

Mr Hill added that he and his wife tend to travel by coach rather than train because it is cheaper but may think again in the future.

He and his wife travel by National Express around eight times a year, he said.

"The travelling public shouldn't have to put up with such conditions.

"For what we pay we expect to get a quality service.

"If I can get a Megatrain in future then National Express has had it," he said.

A National Express spokeswoman said Mr Hill's latest complaint would be investigated. She added: "We are confident that the daily cleaning schedules are being carried out to our very high standards by the contracted cleaning company. We will take any appropriate action to ensure the toilet on board is clean and usable."