FOUR representatives from the First Western National bus company came under fire at a public meeting at Saltash Guildhall on Monday evening.

The representatives, who included senior traffic co-ordinator Jim Pellow, were told of numerous complaints from residents, which included re-routed buses, late buses, lack of information, services which fail to run and a failure to reply to letters.

Arthur Allen, speaking for the local Tenants' and Residents' Association said buses 1 and 2 frequently failed to arrive, leaving passengers waiting for up to an hour and missing appointments as a result.

One member of the public said no information could be gained from the company when buses were re-routed, and told the meeting, chaired by Saltash mayor Bryan Preston: 'You are being given a second class service.'

Marilyn Tait spoke of bus drivers using mobile phones during journeys to telephone their families, while Stephen Tait said that the company never returned any calls of complaint. Another councillor, Peter Stephens, highlighted the time the number 52 bus failed to arrive at Asda leaving his son, and others, stranded. He himself had contacted the bus company, to be told that the service terminated at Derriford, and those left waiting would have to walk there, a journey of some miles. Eventually the passengers arrived home about 8pm.

Mrs Tait also asked why drivers did not have a float to give change in the morning, and was told this is not company policy, and passengers are encouraged to have the right fare available. The representatives said if anyone had complaints against drivers they should keep their tickets, and take the registration number of the bus in question.

The representatives said they would reply to all the questions brought up at the meeting by the town council's December meeting.