I am sorry to read the two letters from passengers who noticed the buses they travelled on didn't call at supermarkets (Letters April 30 and May 7) when they were running late.

We aim to provide the best possible service on which everyone can rely. To counteract unforeseen traffic delays we allow an average 14 per cent "recovery time" in our schedules in an average hour.

Not only is this reviewed every six months on a route-by-route basis but every minute of every day we're monitoring the progress of every bus through the satellite tracking system to ensure we keep delays for waiting passengers to a minimum.

Those occasions when this is not achieved are very much regretted.

-Roger French, managing director, Brighton & Hove Bus Company