A PENSIONER from Farnworth has finally been taken seriously after leading a one-man campaign against bus fumes for three years.

Andrew Chattlin, aged 72, of Bridgeman Street, wants drivers to switch off their engines when stopped at Farnworth bus station because bus fumes are getting up his nose.

He is fed up of breathing in the exhaust gases while shopping at the nearby market and shops, but when he asked drivers to comply they laughed at him and ignored his requests.

The pensioner has showered his local MP, Brian Iddon, with letters, as well as writing to Bolton Council, Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Authority and even Transport Minister John Prescott.

Mr Iddon, the MP for Bolton South East, decided to take up Mr Chattlin's complaints and has written to the bus company and GMPTE on his behalf.

And after the Bolton Evening News contacted First Manchester, the biggest bus company in Bolton, the firm has promised to tell drivers to turn off the engine.

Mr Chattlin had got fed up breathing the bus fumes while he shops at Farnworth market.

The drivers were leaving engines running for up to 30 minutes -- even after they had left the cab, he claimed.

He said: "If you're around the market, you're choking on fumes. At times, there's great big black fumes dispersing over the market stalls and food stalls. The benches are near the bus lanes and there are people there waiting a few feet from the exhaust pipes."

Mr Iddon said: "The drivers should turn off the engines because it is causing an unnecessary pollution problem. Mr Chattlin has written many letters to me and I am very pleased to have at last met him to take up his problem personally."

A spokesman for First Manchester said: "We will immediately send someone down to monitor the situation. In the meantime we will ask all our drivers to turn off their engines wherever this is practical and possible."