I refer to an article which appeared in The Citizen on November 27 entitled Police Undertake a Stress Audit.

The final paragraph stated that "the cost of the audit is set to rocket above the £10,000 originally earmarked for it because of the need to undergo a tendering process".

I would like to point out that the escalation in price is due to the fact that the original cost of the project was under-estimated rather than the need to undertake a tendering exercise.

Peter Higson, Purchasing and contracts manager, Lancashire Constabulary