THE only times I have ever written to you before is to send one or two of my poems, but I'm afraid I am not feeling very poetic at the moment. No, I am just very angry.

Last week in the jobs section of your paper, I noticed two vacancies for dinner ladies at my old primary school at Thatto Heath.

It was for one hour and 15 minutes per day and as I live on a bus route that would enable me to get to the school in about 15 minutes, I decided to send for an application form. However, when I phoned, I was told that St Helens Council do not employ anyone over 65 years.

They don't mind taking the full amount of more than £800 per year from someone over 65 but it seems that we are not allowed to even work just over one hour a day to help to pay this tax.

I am an active woman. I still do my housework. I wash, iron and cook for my family.

I garden, read and walk my dog and I go on holidays that do not include lying around a swimming pool, when I can afford to.

In fact, my life has changed very little over the years except that I am now a widow which has made me more self-reliant.

There must be many pensioners in this town as active, or even more so, than I, so why can't we be at least considered for such a small post as dinner lady, or as they call it, lunchtime supervisor.

I wonder what the other senior citizens have to say about this.

Mrs Marion Lowery, Stirling Crescent, Marshalls Cross.