ONCE again it looks as if Swindon Council has got itself in a fine old mess, and this time it's the elderly and disabled who are the victims.

Residents at Arthur Bennett Court have every reason to be confused and angry at the shambles which is the concessionary fares scheme.

If, as the council says, the concessionary companion vouchers were never meant for taxis, it should have made that clear in the first place.

The disabled obviously thought they were otherwise why would someone like Ernie Scott, who can only get around in a taxi, have accepted £60 worth of free travel and his wife, who acts as his companion and on whom he relies to help him get about, have done the same?

Now his wife Jean is left with half a book of vouchers she cannot use.

For the council to try to differentiate between a seat on a bus and hiring a whole taxi is ludicrous.

It should apologise, reinstate the vouchers and try to sort out just why it finds it so difficult to communicate clearly with so many of its residents.