JUST wanted to praise Thamesdown Bus Service. I haven’t used buses regularly for over ten years but on Thursday I decided to visit Marlborough as my five-year-old son wanted to go there on a double decker. I thought I’d give it a trial while he was at school.

For only £3.80 you can get an adult Day Rider for unlimited travel on all their services! For an extra £1 I could have taken up to three children. Incredible value and makes journeys so much easier having just one ticket to look after.

The number 12 took me to the hospital where I caught the number 70 straight to Marlborough High Street. Both buses were on time there and on the way back and all were exceptionally clean and tidy.

There were the usual downsides: Almost everyone gets their phone out and hunches over it the second they sit down. There’s the obligatory teen with headphones going “Tss Tss Tss” non-stop. The people who sit watching YouTube and other stuff at full blast without even bothering to use ear plugs. The people who have their ring tones and text alerts so loud that the people three cars back can hear when they get a message. The super loud talkers (Dom Joly fans know) “I’m on the bus. Yes, the bus!”.

And then there’s the sniffers! Oh my word, the sniffers. There was one on every bus. Always a man. And snorting and sniffing as loudly and grossly as possible every five to ten seconds. I shall be taking foam earplugs for myself and a brief handwritten note to pass to the sniffer describing the wonderful work of Mr Kleenex in the invention of disposable tissues.

But apart from that I was extremely impressed and will be making far more use of those Day Riders.Well done Thamesdown Buses!

ROGER LACK North Swindon