A war of words has broken out this week after a West Horndon pensioner, who was honoured in last month's Brentwood civic awards, was banned from the 265 bus route which runs through the village.

Bernard Turner, 73, of Thorndon Avenue, picked up a lifetime achievement award for his work with the West Horndon Horticultural Society, but has been barred from the bus after complaining about the service.

However, other passengers have leapt to the defence of their "beloved" bus and its driver, who they say goes out of his way to help them.

Mr Turner said that he was banned after Essex County Council passed on a letter of complaint about the service to operators Blue Triangle.

"Everybody I've spoken to has said they can't do that, but they've done it and I'm not going to go and get turned away again," he said.

"I'm not arguing with them - it is up to them to apologise.

"I've been getting lifts everywhere but I rely on the buses. I use them four or five times a week. It's absolutely ridiculous."

He is backed by West Horndon's borough councillor, Roy Boggis, who said: "As I understand it, Bernard was banned because he wrote to Essex County Council and complained, and I think that is disgusting.

"He should be able to complain seven days a week and not be banned."

But the driver who barred him, Derek Hutton, claims he was perfectly within his rights to do so - and says many of his passengers agree with him.

He said: "Mr Turner has been complaining about the bus for two or three years now. We have been running the route at a loss for nearly a year through goodwill, and we do our best.

"Ninety per cent of our customers are pensioners and we all muck in and help each other to keep the route going. Mr Turner is the only one who has complained. I'd like to thank all my regulars for their support."

Many of them have written and telephoned This Is Essex partner the Brentwood Gazette to give backing to Mr Hutton and the 265.

Peggy Tredget, of Warley, said: "It is such a friendly atmosphere on that bus - everyone helps each other out and the driver is very, very nice. I can't see why anyone would complain about it."

And Pam Cox, of Harold Wood, said: "Everyone else who uses this bus gives nothing but praise and we never fail to keep saying so.

"Our driver Derek looks after us all so well."

Converted for the new archive on 19 November 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.