Letter to the editor: I am writing to invite all News Shopper readers to back the Love the Bus Pass petition, supported by tens of thousands of people, hundreds of local groups and the National Pensioners’ Convention.

The campaign aims to get all parties to pledge before the general election that if elected to power on May 7, they will retain the England concessionary bus pass for older and blind and disabled people as a statutory universal entitlement free at the point of use.

Last June, with some 42,000 signatures already collected, I wrote to local newspapers throughout England inviting readers’ support. In three months, 110,000 pen-on-paper signatures were collected – testament both to widespread fears about the future of the bus pass and to the huge influence of the local press in their communities. That instant, major, response meant that we could deliver our first instalment of 152,347 signatures to 10 Downing Street on September 10.

If Love the Bus Pass is news to you, please make your voice heard and sign up by early March, when we deliver another 100,000 signatures to No 10, to make 250,000 all told.

To date no political party has made a clear and unequivocal commitment to retaining the bus pass in its present form.

Readers may request petition forms and information either by email (richardvworrall@yahoo.

com), by phone, giving or leaving name and address (01922 641084 or 448331) or post (46 Winn House, Walsall, WS2 8NW).

RICHARD WORRALL, Love the Bus Pass Campaign Co-ordinator