I AM afraid to say that the Pat Jones letter made me burst out laughing, because nothing could be further from the truth in 'Adoption move blatantly obvious' (LET, February 20).

It was the individual members of Burnley Labour Party who decided democratically on their next parliamentary candidate. Every party member had one vote and I'm proud to say they gave me their support with a clear majority.

You can ask them if they were voting under 'instruction' from anyone else and you'll get an equally clear answer -- 'no!'

As for me, I'm just glad the process is out of the way so that we can get on with regenerating our town. I want to see a prosperous, confident Burnley, holding its head up with pride in the 21st century.

And I'm clear that we won't get that from the BNP, who seek to divide us, or from the Liberals, who just say anything to anyone rather than working for the long-term future of the town.

KITTY USSHER, Laithe Street, Burnley.