MY wife and I were going to my annual navy reunion in Nottingham, and we decided to travel first class with Virgin Trains. I booked our return tickets on August 28 and with our Senior Rail Card it cost us £348.60.

We left Southampton at 9.15am on September 29 and arrived at Birmingham at 11.45am. We then caught a Central train at 12.19pm, arriving in Nottingham at 1.40pm, there was no first class on this train. Although we paid for it, we were not told.

On our return journey on October 1 we left Nottingham at 12.09pm, arriving at Birmingham 1.24pm, and once again there no first class.

We were looking forward to getting on the Virgin train at Birmingham and the first class service to Southampton, and our free refreshments. The train left at 2.03pm and was on time. It was packed - people were standing and sitting in the aisle. The staff could not get from one end of the train to the other. No one inspected our tickets, no one could get to the restaurant car, the toilets became blocked and were then locked. I don't know what would have happened in an emergency. All we got for our £348.60 was a seat.

I was told this happens every weekend and the trains are too short.

Why don't local MPs Alan Whitehead and John Denham get their government to legislate on how many passengers are allowed to stand on trains, the same as buses? Virgin would then have to bring back the longer trains. Next year I might get a taxi to my reunion, it could not cost much more.

E H SNOOK, Eastleigh.

A Virgin Trains spokesmam replies: Mr Snook should have been advised of lack of first class on Central Trains' services when booking, and I can only apologise for the fact that he was not.

Had the advice been given, he could have chosen to change at Birmingham New Street to our 12.03pm service to Derby to connect with the same Central Trains service to Nottingham, allowing him to enjoy first class travel for more of his journey.

Our services are often very busy on Sundays, but I am very concerned to learn of the difficulties with the toilets. If Mr Snook writes to our customer relations department at PO Box 713, Birmingham B5 4HH with details of his ticket and problems, his situation will be given sympathetic consideration.