IN contrast to all the letters regarding the ftr (my own included), my granddad caught the number 1 bus home from the hospital and it was the oldest double-decker he had been on.

The poor bus driver had a right job driving it and the brakes were extremely squeaky and needed plenty of extra pressure. In fact, at one point, my granddad wondered if he was going to make it home.

Instead of First spending money on the purple monsters, why don't they concentrate in replacing all the old buses with lovely new ones or the bendy buses.

I know that there are not many of the old buses left now, but I have recently travelled on the old double-decker myself and it is quite a trauma trying to get on and off - especially if you have a pushchair with you. If you are in a wheelchair you have no chance.

Jenny Danks, Marston Crescent, York.