AS a teenager in the early 1960s I joined the Civil Defence organisation where we learned a lot about rescue, first-aid and what to do if a nuclear war developed - although what I remember most vividly was volunteering to help search the moors around Saddleworth for the bodies of children murdered by Ian Brady and Myra Hindley.

I recently read that Ann West, the mother of Lesley Ann Downey, had passed away. Lesley Ann was abducted from a fairground here in Lancashire, tortured and murdered.

All parents are aware that the safety of their children is paramount, even more so in this day and age. And though I am not against fairgrounds - just the opposite in fact - they can, and do, attract the wrong sort of people.

After consultation with residents, the clergy, and a delegation of market traders regarding the trial siting of the Spring fair on the market car park, Bury Council, in their wisdom, have decided to continue to make available Castlecroft as a temporary venue.

I say to councillors: thanks for listening to us.

CHRIS BUCKLEY,

treasurer,

Bury open market.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.