Don't moan about Sussex buses - Babs Janneh thinks they're so good that he wants to export our system to Africa.

Hardly a week goes by without the British transport system being called second rate.

Complaints about people being herded into filthy, late trains and buses are almost as common as the bad British weather.

But the system is being seen as a model of excellence which could be developed in a poverty-stricken West African country.

Bus driver Babs, 48, hopes to set up his own bus service in his native Gambia using the experience he has gained working for Stagecoach in Eastbourne.

He has already written to Stagecoach chairman Brian Souter asking for help and advice on how to start.

Mr Souter built his empire from Perth, Scotland, starting 1980 with just two buses.

Now Stagecoach is one of the world's biggest rail and bus groups, operating about 20,000 vehicles worldwide.

Father-of-three Babs, of Langney, Eastbourne, hopes to set himself on a similar entrepreneurial trail.

He said: "If people think it's bad here, they should visit Gambia, where buses are filthy and people are packed in like sardines.

"Fights break out over who should board because buses are overcrowded and people arrive at work late because buses are late.

"Having a sound transport system would do so much for the economy and create work opportunities."

Former policeman Babs came to Sussex in 1999, working as a supervisor at Gardner's Books in Whittle Drive, Eastbourne.

Since starting work for Stagecoach last October, Babs said he had been amazed at the efficiency of Britain's transport services.

He said: "I can't understand why the transport system is such a big joke here.

"Trains and buses run late sometimes but British transport is among the best in the world."