I travelled from Blackburn to Clitheroe on one of Transdev’s new buses. Information displayed down the length of the interior informed me that the vehicle’s engine was “state of the art”, producing virtually no serious or detrimental emissions.

What the notice failed to tell me was that my journey would be ruined by the incessant babble of one- way mobile phone conversations, the constant hissing of so-called personal sound systems and the nauseating aroma of the ubiquitous takeaway.

There were no signs on the bus relating to smoking, eating, drinking or the excessive volume of headphones.

I know that many of Transdev’s drivers have complained to their managers about the irritation and distraction of mobiles and headphones.

To no avail: the management seem to ignore the fact that they have a duty of care to their employees let alone providing a pleasant, irritation-free environment for their passengers.

P S Woods, Lane Ends, Bolton-by-Bowland