Sir — Perhaps Peter Collett won't believe me when I say that Stagecoach have got rid of their "old barges" only to replace them with new bangers on the 20/A route from Oxford-Charlbury-Chipping Norton which give you far more bangs to the minute and a suspension system that broke down on its second or third week.

The rattling of the whole bus and the noise of the air conditioning, combined with the banging and jolting over the roads, result in a thoroughly uncomfortable ride.

The seating is considerably worse than in the old buses: the middle of the side-facing seats has no post to hold on to; the rear seats are only reached by a step up; and some are too high for those with short legs to reach the floor, as the bus shakes and throws its passengers about. The view out of the front window is blocked so that you cannot tell where you are.

Oh for the lovely comfortable cushioned seats of the Worth's single-decker buses — disappeared from this route for ever, I suppose? Why are these double-decker Stagecoach monsters allowed on our narrow country lanes to the detriment of the surfaces and the inconvenience (and danger) of other users?

Elise Bayley, Finstock