THE Government has said that there is no more money for the firefighters. No more money? I find that very difficult to believe.

The Government has put out contracts for two aircraft carriers costing £10billion. You pay a man nearly £100,000 per week to kick a football about, you pay a lad of 18 years of age £10,000 per week to do the same thing.

I heard today that wealthy people by using high powered tax lawyers have avoided tax on £101billion. A city bank intends to pay Christmas bonuses to its employees in Turkish lira again to avoid British tax and yet we are told there is no money to pay the men who have given an essential service to you and to me.

I wonder how many people can remember that great entertainer Wilfred Pickles with his radio programme 'Have A Go?' I am sure in the same circumstances he would say "Give them the money Barney."

One question I would like to ask. I have never had a free bus pass, is it the north and south divide, because I do know that pensioners in London have had free travel for many years?

LESLIE JONES, Aviemore Close, Audley, Blackburn.