AS the General Election nears and all the parties stress the importance of education, I wonder if any of them can tell me why, when an earlier date for the election was cancelled due to the foot and mouth outbreak, the school my children attend was still closed for the day as it was due to be used as a polling station.

The election on Thursday also means the school will be closed for the same use, so why is it that I am to vote in a 'mobile' polling station, but the school is to close?

Surely, another 'mobile' polling station could be used, enabling my children to attend school as normal and not to have missed out on another valuable day of education.

JULIE ELLISON (Mrs), Snape Street, Darwen.