ON a bus recently one mother and her pushchair occupied all the seats available for elderly or disabled passengers.

The other front seats were occupied by three mothers with pushchairs, even though there was a notice on them asking passengers to give the seats up if needed by elderly or disabled people.

So I asked the person occupying a double seat behind the pushchairs, which is also available for the elderly or disabled, if I could sit there.

I am 83 and did not want to walk to the back of the bus where seats were available.

She made a fuss but, when I pointed to the notice, she moved away.

These mothers do not pay anything to travel with their pushchairs, yet the one mother and pushchair were occupying all the seats available for that purpose.

I am not a grumpy old woman, I am usually very tolerant, but too many people ignore notices.

Mrs M Pierotti,

Melton Avenue, York.

Updated: 10:40 Wednesday, April 09, 2003