As an ex-pat but frequent visitor to Malta over the past 34 years, I have never ceased to be impressed by the rapid change which the island has undergone. Some, such as the improved road network, telecommunications, improvement in seawater quality, the reliability of tap water and the electricity supply have been most welcome. Others, such as the relentless concretisation of the (once) individual towns and villages, less so.

However, one recent “addition” to Maltese roads has been, in my view, so silly, inappropriate and unnecessary that it has attracted a considerable quantity of comment in the UK as well as back home on the rock.

The Guardian newspaper has just carried an item which typifies the mixture of amusement, mystification and incredulity which the sight of these monsters on Malta’s roads engenders in the overseas visitor. The newspaper quotes Boris Johnson, mayor of London, who was re-elected two months ago and whose manifesto had included ridding London of Arriva’s bendy buses. “These bulky and ungainly monstrosities were always more suitable for the wide open vistas of a Scandinavian airport than for London,” said the city’s mayor. “I am glad to see the back of them.”

The Times of London carried a similar feature last month.

The Prime Minister of Malta promised significant developments during this week; perhaps he might also emulate Mr Johnson and demand that Arriva, who have quite obviously, in my view, “dumped” these buses on Malta, remove them forthwith and replace them with several, more suitable modes of transport. Bus journeys will speed up and mugs like me might not have to wait almost 40 minutes for a bus which is scheduled to leave Valletta every 10 minutes, as I was obliged to the last time I visited home.

Incidentally, I am told the Arriva employees hate the things as well...