NEEDING to go to Blackburn recently, I decided not to take the car and caught the train from Clitheroe. The journey was fine, the train clean and on time and I arrived in Blackburn on time.

There the story changes. Obviously, the station has undergone some improvements and at the moment looks good, albeit not finished off yet.

Unfortunately, I then had to walk into the centre through the Boulevard and bus shelters. Not a pretty sight!

There were at least two groups of undesirables hanging around making the journey very daunting. I walked through with 'blinkers' on.

While shopping, again I encountered numerous yobs of all ages and, to be honest, I could not finish my job quickly enough to return to Clitheroe.

Unfortunately, I had to make the journey back again through the Boulevard. It was appalling!

First, I was following two sweet elderly ladies who had white hair, nicely permed and the first gang of louts shouted "That's a "*****g wig!" twice, right in front of them.

When I looked over towards them I could not believe what I saw -- a middle-aged man standing between two bus shelters (or, should I say, propping himself up?), facing the road and in full view of the whole world was urinating into the road.

To say I was disgusted is an understatement. I looked around for someone to report it to, but there was no-one in sight. All this happened at 11am.

When I was on the train, I breathed a sigh of relief to know that I would never ever have to do that again -- I would rather walk!

It proves one thing -- we can make improvements all we like, but we can never change the way people are!

Maybe someone in authority may deem it fit to put some sort of patrol on the Boulevard so that normal people like myself will not feel frightened to walk the short distance from the train to the shops.

Name and address received.