Police fear bus strike could reach fever pitch today

Andratx local police will be out in force at taxi ranks today in order to try and ease the tension and calm people down as they join the long queues for taxis while the Calvia and Andratx bus strike continues. Today is a key day in the week-long dispute as it is market day in Andratx and normally on a Wednesday the local bus companies will make some 30 journeys back and forth, but today - no busses are expected to cover their services. Tourists are bewildered and local residents furious. Those who cannot afford to catch a taxi to Palma, a 3'500 peseta journey in each direction, have been left almost stranded. Doctor's appointments have been cancelled and, in one case, a British family which is now into its second week of holiday, has been trying to catch a bus to Palma for the past week and was out again in the square in Santa Ponsa hoping for a bus which does not appear to be coming. Granted, the two bus companies hit by industrial action by drivers, have put notices up in bus shelters explaining what is happening. But they are in Spanish and tourists were seen yesterday, looking blankly at the notice and then sitting down to wait for a bus. Tourists are also angry with hoteliers.