IN reply to your letter published Wednesday, November 27, from G Smith. Well, I am firefighter Howard Denton's wife, and he should set his facts right regarding the levels of pay.

If only his take home pay was £409 per week, he certainly would not be on strike. As for his second job -- he delivered parcels twice last Christmas to help towards the cost of Christmas. His actual take home pay is just over £1,000 a month, after paying £200 a month pension etc. For this, he has to work weekends, nights, even Christmas.

Our youngest daughter is seven. Her daddy has spent one Christmas with her. Every time he leaves for work I wonder if he will return home safely. I spent the whole of last New Year's Eve consoling him -- a six-year-old girl and her father died, despite risking his own life trying to rescue them. It was found the house had been deliberately set on fire.

I have friends who earn more fitting alarms, delivering parcels and warehouse work.

He loves his job and is so proud of serving the community. After serving five years in the Royal Navy, he was made redundant after modernisation and feels history is repeating itself again.

One very upset

firefighter's wife.

Mrs S Denton

Farnworth, Bolton