I recently travelled to and from Brighton by National Express coach service and had the most unfortunate experience of having to arrive at the Brighton bus and coach station at 8am to wait for the coach to arrive for the journey to Cornwall.

It was pouring with rain and, with many other waiting passengers, I had to endure the disgraceful and archaic conditions of what is called a bus station.

There were no comfortable shelters - so the rain ran down on to our clothes - and not even any decent or reasonable seating.

There were no facilities to purchase tea, coffee or other refreshments. Worst of all, there were no public toilet facilities anywhere.

This is a most appalling, uncomfortable and disgraceful service for the public to have to endure.

One fellow passenger had to run round to the nearest hotel to use the toilets.

Like many other passengers these days, I am a pensioner and such unwelcome discomfort is difficult to cope with.

Brighton and Hove may now enjoy city status but the conditions for the travelling public leave a great deal to be desired.

I shall never again consider coming to Brighton and Hove.

-Mrs Jean Hatch, St Mabyn, Bodmin, Cornwall