I read an article about a new playing surface being laid at St Michael with St Johns School in Blackburn before the summer of 2005.

Summer has arrived and I do not see a new surface and this is very disappointing.

I once used to play there where over a 100 kids played and it was safe. Even if you fell, as the surface was soft we could withstand falls, you didn't hurt yourself.

Now the surface has been tarmaced. It must be very stressful for parents who's kids go to play on this tarmaced surface as if their kids were to fall they would seriously injure themselves.

I have also experienced that when the surface has become wet after raining it becomes very slippy and this also is dangerous for the kids.

Also, before the old surface was ripped up over 100 kids used to play on the astro turf. Nowadays when I pass, there is barely a dozen and this is very disappointing as kids have nowhere to play. It is these kinds of changes that cause kids to turn to crime and drugs to fulfil their time during holidays and after school.

K Yusuf

Palmer Road

Blackburn