REGARDING the remarks of Mr G Smith (Letters, September 9) and Sam Spence and Mrs M Courtney (Letters, September 15) the Johnson Street-Devonport Road area of Blackburn has much in common with other notorious areas.

Brookhouse has one of the highest unemployment rates in Blackburn, there are Intack, Shadsworth and Higher Croft among others.

In theory, areas where people do not have jobs should have some of the cleanest streets in town - consider how much time these people have.

In reality, however, the situation is quite the contrary. It is fair to point out, though, that a dignified few take a little pride in their homes and these homes will stand out in such an area.

But on the whole, it just goes to prove the very plain fact that in today's Britain, where benefits are not benefits, but handouts, where there is unemployment, there is sheer idleness.

SARAH WHEATCROFT, Livesey Branch Road, Livesey, Blackburn.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.