WAS Darwen councillor Dave Smith joking when, commenting about an elderly couple who had hundreds of pounds-worth of damage done to their home by vandals (LET, May 9), he said one way round these problems way is for the community to club together and buy closed-circuit TV for the area?

Coun Smith, people in this borough already pay inflated council tax and what do we get for it? Not a lot.

We also pay extra with our council tax for policing. The police and council should be responsible for buying and installing CCTV in trouble spots.

Perhaps Coun Smith could make a contribution towards CCTV system for this area from his allowances. w

H HAMER (Mrs), Lowther Place, Blackburn.