REGARDING your report "Traders' plea to allow free parking" (LET, October 16), the day before after shopping, I turned on to Preston New Road in Blackburn and the traffic was stacked up from the end of Barbara Castle Way. Eventually, I was able to use side roads and get my frozen items home before they thawed.

The following day I visited the town centre and remembering the previous day's hassle, I came off the shopping precinct car park on the Church Street side. It took me 20 minutes to get to Darwen Street Bridge.

Once under the bridge, I felt "free" again. My joy was short-lived as one lane of the dual carriage way was coned off.

In this age of TV shopping channels, mail order and being able to buy on the internet, shopping centres need every customer they can get. If I choose I can "bank by phone," so I don't need to visit a bank to pay bills unless I want to.

Just to add to my misery of driving on Blackburn roads, I now need to visit the Royal Mail sorting office as I was out when they called with a package for me.

But having read the notice that was left for me, I find I can ring them and they will deliver the package when I am in. Why not?

JEAN LEWIS, Ernlouen Close, Blackburn