I SUPPOSE we must all be grateful to Councillor Maureen Bateson for alerting the public to the dangers of karaoke (LET, November 13). Just 30 miles away in Blackpool, the council has totally ignored all the safety warnings coming from Blackburn with Darwen Council and are paying a heavy price for their uncaring attitude.

Their pubs are full of people singing and enjoying themselves totally oblivious to the danger they are in.

On a serious note, Blackpool is subject to exactly the same legal requirements as the rest of Britain in respect of public entertainment licences. The difference is that there the law is applied with commonsense and a regard for the tourist economy.

To actually drag local licensees through the courts to be punished for their 'sins' is not only vindictive, bone-headed and many other unprintable things, but totally counter-productive to a borough bidding for city status.

I sincerely hope that people remember these vile prosecutions when perusing their voting slips at the next local elections.

KEVIN ELVEY, Sudell Road, Darwen.