THERE has been a lot of correspondence recently about the rights of anglers and cyclists to use the towpaths of the Leeds and Liverpool canal.

Older readers will remember when these towpaths were no-go areas. Fortunately, about 25 years ago a campaign was started by the local press and the Burnley and District Civic Trust to reverse that policy.

We argued that a busy canal is a safe canal and eventually we carried the day. The towpaths are open, we have the Weavers Triangle Visitor Centre, facilities for canoeing and so forth.

I was involved with these progressive developments and am still a regular walker on the towpaths. Just one thing bothers me about the cyclists, and that is, why are cyclists so reluctant to have a bell? Walkers cannot easily hear them coming up behind.

I am not one for bringing in new laws, but in my days as a cyclist it was always taken for granted that your bike must have a bell and it would make for a happier relationship among us all if that rule still applied.

KEN SPENCER, Manchester Road, Burnley.