HOW annoying to read in the national press that James Whitaker, Royal correspondent, in his 60s, has received his free bus pass.

He obtained this because he was reminded by a friend from Bucking-ham Palace that he was entitled to it.

The whole country seems to think all pensioners receive a free bus pass.

This is not so if you live in Wyre Forest.

How sad and left behind we poor pensioners are.

What a timewarp we live in when the greatest and the richest in the land are entitled to free passes which they probably will never use, and we have to cough up £5 for a concessionary card and 40p maximum for everywhere we travel which, let's face it, boundary-wise is not very far at all.

My sister, who lives only seven miles away in the West Midlands, gets free bus travel for miles, and reduced price rail travel.

Even Shirley Bassey, it is alleged, boasts a free bus pass.

Does any pensioner in Wyre Forest want one? I know I do.

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