I READ with interest and dread your recent report about Arriva withdrawing bus services which Durham County Council can no longer afford to subsidise.

But as Arriva’s current level of service is about as reliable as Darren Bent, I wonder if it’s possible for it to get any worse?

For example, on Thursday, January 6, I waited in Darlington for 50 minutes for two scheduled X66 buses to Middlesbrough which did not turn up. They had apparently both broken down.

The following day I waited with my 76-year-old mum for 35 minutes at Bishop Auckland bus station for a service 5 which didn’t appear.

On Thursday, January 13, the X66 bus at Fitzwilliam Drive once again didn’t show.

Earlier this week, the service 21 never arrived – and so it goes on.

These experiences are just from the last few days but they are unfortunately representative of what has become a shambolic state of affairs.

Donald Simpson, Newton Aycliffe.