WE ARE encouraged to take the bus and save the environment.

I am sure the elderly, and dare I say not so elderly, might do so more often were it not for the foul language and great unwashed one encounters.

The journey is further aggravated by those who do not know how to signal the bus correctly and, when they do board the bus, do not have the correct change or start disputing with the driver the destination.

Whilst I have every sympathy with mothers, is the M1 or M2 bus really suitable during the day for infants with the encumbrance and inconvenience to other passengers of pushchairs?

If you are a smoker then your clothes smell unless you wash them regularly. If it is hot weather you will smell unless you have a shower. What price is a bar of soap?

I must commend the lady bus driver the other day who stood up to a foul-mouthed couple with a youngster in tow who, refusing to desist from swearing and smoking, were turned off the bus.

The bus driver was from Poland and the whole bus cheered her actions.

I expect the youngster will sadly be another statistic for social services.

The only journey that my wife and I really enjoy is the Purbeck flyer from Canford Cliffs to Swanage. On this bus everyone is friendly and my wife and I have made many acquaintances over the years. If you have not tried this service it is well worth it and gives you a great opportunity to converse with people of intelligence and manners.

WILLIAM TIPTON, Esplanade, Canford Cliffs