REGARDING memories of some 40 years ago of the Victoria Cinema off Eanam in Blackburn (Letters, December 26), this was also known as Charnley's, but it did not fall into the canal, as Tom Sharratt says.

I was a young police constable at the time and was sent to Wharf Street to investigate a pavement subsidence. It was discovered that a hole had appeared in the boiler room of the cinema and the corner of the boiler room had collapsed into the hole, affecting the pavement above.

I remember throwing a stone in and hearing it rattle away for what appeared to be a heck of a long way. The cinema had to be closed. It was believed that the site had been occupied by either a brewery or similar and the hole was in fact an old well shaft .

The only remedy was to demolish the cinema which, incidentally, was owned by two brothers called Feilding. I believe this family had connections with Neville's store in Darwen Street.

BARRY GREENWOOD, Mellor Lane, Mellor.