It is all very well for Tim Sadler, Oxford City Council's executive director for city services, to say that 96 per cent of pensioners received their national bus passes in time (Oxford Mail, April 5).

The fact remains that four per cent (several hundred pensioners), did NOT, including myself.

This compelled me to cancel my plan to go with Roger Jenking as far as Stratford-upon-Avon on April 1, which was very disappointing for me.

I did not receive any letter saying my new pass would be late, nor did some others I have spoken to.

After three days without a new pass, I phoned city councillor Jean Fooks, who suggested the delay was probably because I had one of the very old yellow passes.

I think she was right. But holders of such passes could have been warned months ago that they would have to apply at the council office.

That is what I did on Friday, April 4. There were lots of other pensioners with the same problem.

After a 30-minute wait, I was photographed and issued with a new pass very quickly. I could have done the same thing last month, if I had been warned.

I am alarmed that Mr Sadler says old passes "will be valid within the city until September".

Are some unfortunates to be confined within the boundaries for five months more? I do hope not.

Voters have a chance to get rid of half the present councillors on May 1. I urge all pensioners to use their votes.

MICHAEL HUGH-JONES Headley Way Headington Oxford