I refer to MP Don Foster's attempts to stop open-top bus firms taking advantage of diesel fuel subsidies meant for normal service buses ('MP Is Gunning For Tour Bus Firms', February 14).

These open-top bus companies claim back 35p a litre off the normal price of diesel which, if they were operating a normal public service and not part-time tourist rides, would be quite fair.

Little wonder, then, why we see about 13 of these buses on their slow grind around town with hardly any passengers onboard.

I have wondered for years how they managed to show a profit.

I welcome Don Foster's attempt to stop this practice.

With the opening of the new Park and Ride facility at Rawcliffe your article was timely.

Let's hope that those in power give the support needed to the end this misuse of public money.

Stuart Wilson,

Vesper Drive,

Acomb, York.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.