REGARDING your article (LET, August 5) about the council's summer schemes for children, I was surprised to read about the complaints of one parent that her eight-year-old child had been allowed to leave the summer scheme at Darwen unchallenged.

I think some parents may be misguided in believing that the council is providing day care and leave their children at these events on the understanding that they will be kept there until they are collected at the end of the session.

My son has been working on Blackburn with Darwen Council summer schemes in his college holiday. He is working outdoors in a park and the number of children participating each afternoon varies, but on August 4 they were entertaining 40 children in the hottest part of the day with no access to drinking water. At some centres there have been much larger groups of children.

My son cannot possibly keep check on the comings and goings of these children, some of whose parents stay with them. They would have to have somebody posted on each exit to the park.

Neither can he physically restrain any child who wants to leave the park. He is not there as a child minder but only to provide activities for those who drop in.

I would never consider leaving my child anywhere and with anyone unless I had checked out the arrangements and was satisfied with them.

Even then, I would ensure my child knew he had to wait for me to return, who to ask for help and if outdoors in this heat, provide sun screen and drinking water.

Parents themselves should determine whether an event is suitable for their children and not wait to be told. They should take responsibility for their children's care whether they are in school, on the street or on a summer activity scheme.

JULIE HARRIS, Cornwall Road, Rishton.