I WOULD like to thank Mrs Tobin for her letter referring to one I wrote concerning a food shop in Farnworth, it is nice to know that someone else actually cares about the area they live in.

I would agree that it is folly to rush an investigation, and that it is to the benefit of both the shop owner and the public. But if it has so far taken seven months and the inspectors give the appearance of no answer, even a general idea, why are they investigating, or what is the problem? They won't even speak to the interested parties. They were very quick to hit the press originally, but won't comment now. Why not?

I also take the point made by Mrs Tobin concerning E-coli in Scotland, and, of course, there was Foot and Mouth, but I would respectfully suggest that they are separate from the case in question. Bolton is, I believe, in Lancashire.

Simon D P Panter

Church Street

Farnworth, Bolton