MANY elderly people depend on public transport to carry on their everyday lives.

Shopping, trips to doctors or social outings all mean the use of buses because the only alternative - taxis - are simply too expensive to contemplate.

It's disturbing then to see details of an Audit Commission report today which says that in Blackburn and Darwen work by the crime and disorder partnership has found that the elderly are scared of travelling on public transport because they fear disruptive behaviour by young people.

The Commission then goes on to say that while the council has recognised the issue "there is no activity to address its causes."

Councillors are upset at what they see as unjustified criticism and say work has been done to address fears which are said to be often unfounded.

But even if the risks are statistically small the fears are real. The council has got to convince pensioners that they will be safe and secure on buses.

At last night's Blackburn with Darwen Council forum Coun Kate Hollern attacked opposition councillors who publicly complained about being barred from raising contentious issues at meetings.

She said she was "appalled" that they had "run to the Evening Telegraph" adding: "That isn't the way to do things."

Are we to assume then that in Coun Hollern's ideal society newspapers would not be allowed to report criticism of ruling politicians?