SIR: When it comes to a monthly prize for inefficiency, G M Buses North win it by a mile.

For consistency, no-one can touch them - they consistently don't turn up; consistently break down (if they turn up!); consistently leave the general public out on a limb, altering timetables without announcement, and consistently act in a condescending manner concerning complaints.

I have noticed in the BEN Letters page recently, six angry complaints from users in Belmont, Harwood, Smithills etc. Do G M care? No, they seem to think any publicity (even bad) is better than none.

As for Belmont customers - one bus route has been scrapped, the other amended, though not to the timetable pinned on bus stops! And monitoring G M North's "service" during the last two weeks, I note the first bus (9.22am) has failed to arrive three times, the last bus from town (5.52pm) has never arrived on four occasions, and breakdowns work out at two a week. Now that's consistency for you!

Even councillors are finding it difficult to deal with the administration of G M Buses North. Maybe it's time to call in Roger Cook. He'd have a field day! Or maybe we should write to Cilla Black. I'd love to hear her say - "Surprise, Surprise, your 'buzz' has arrived on 'time'."

I S Kilday

Belmont Road, Bolton

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.