AT now aged 65 (a pensioner), I was part of the baby-boomers, shared my teenager years with the ‘swinging-sixties’ and ‘Mods ‘n’ Rockers’.

I owned my own motorbike, then later drove Ford Cortinas and Capris, then finished up with a black ‘state of the art’ Golf GTI.

I have now relinquished all that by selling my car and purchasing a mobility scooter.

Today I went on my first trial run to Boscombe. At first I thought I might feel embarrassed (a bit of a comedown).

But no. I found everybody, including cars, allowing me such courtesy with a smile that it actually made my first day out a wonderful experience.

I suddenly, through these austere times, felt so free of it all.

I will no longer have to succumb to the forever rising car insurance, even though I have never ever claimed one penny since I first began driving in 1976.

No more yearly paying out hundreds to garages.

No longer will I have to pay for road tax, which is so unfair, as it does not account for use or mileage.

No more car parking fees, fines for parking or going just that bit over the speed limit.

Owning a motor car used to be a pleasure. Now it is a definite liability.

I am now so free of it all and so enjoying the new experience on my new, so green, electric mobility scooter.

CHRISTINE PETERS, Wellington Road, Bournemouth