These days, it is common for people to accuse the Government of dumbing down our education system, so that all receive passes and no one feels 'disadvantaged'.

This, of course, our Government, which we all believe and trust 100 per cent, strenuously denies. Never have students been so well educated.

So, on reading your article, Blitz on lights nets 50 riders (Oxford Mail, October 31), I noticed that one of those reported was a 21-year-old student, a well-educated person, a leader of his peers and one who had achieved top grades to gain admittance to an Oxbridge university. This person could go on to great things, possibly a leader of the country.

So how did this highly-educated member of an elite university react when stopped?

What pearls of wisdom fell from his highly educated mouth?

"I did not know you were supposed to have lights. It never occurred to me."

God help us if this person is one of the best educated.

DEREK SMITH London Road Headington Oxford It was interesting to read your report (Oxford Mail, November 10) on Jean Fooks's campaign to extend the service 14 bus route to the Churchill Hospital at Headington, Oxford (Oxford Mail, November 10). As I pointed out at a transport meeting shortly after the previous service was axed, such a service would be equally valuable to the residents of Kidlington. Sadly, however, the support of our county councillor, Maurice Billington, has been conspicuous by its absence.

Does he regard budget cuts imposed by the Tories as more important than the needs of Kidlington residents? I have one practical suggestion.

Now that route 13 provides a frequent service between Oxford railway station and the John Radcliffe Hospital, the extension of service 14 to the railway station is virtually redundant.

If service 14 were to be curtailed at Debenhams, this could provide sufficient flexibility to extend the service to the Churchill Hospital at the other end of the route.

A suggestion such as this should enable the service to be provided at a much lower cost than is being suggested by the county council.

Is the county council really so incapable of creative thinking?

CHRIS ROBINS (Councillor) Foxdown Close Kidlington