So Christmas has been cancelled as far as Swindon's park and ride scheme is concerned.

A shortage of staff to man the buses means that the operating companies haven't got sufficient drivers to run the extra services.

The results will no doubt be long queues, frayed tempers and a miserable Christmas shopping experience for us all.

The problem has arisen through circumstances beyond Swindon Borough Council's control. Bus companies suffering a recruitment crisis say they simply cannot cope with the prospect of more services on the Saturdays running up to Christmas.

But it is a highly embarrassing situation for the council.

It has always advocated park and ride services and eventually hopes to have a network of six permanent sites around the town.

Now the three temporary facilities it had set up to diffuse the Christmas congestion have fallen by the wayside.

The message being sent out to all is that would-be-city Swindon simply cannot manage its affairs and that Christmas shoppers must visit the town at their own risk.