I FAIL to see why someone from Darwen should have the nerve to tell Bolton people where to shop.

Surely it is our choice where we go and what we pay to park -- not hers, when she does not even live here. If we all took her advice Bolton would become a ghost town and not the pleasant, well stocked, friendly town it is now, and many people would have to lose their jobs -- is that what she wants!

At Middlebrook, where parking is free, there are no clothes shops, shoe shops (except for Asda and Tesco which have limited fashion items) and who needs to buy furniture, craft items, etc., on a regular basis.

The Trafford Centre, while very attractive, also may have free parking, but on my visits I have found very little that I want to buy as most shops only cater for very young people. Perhaps, strange though it may seem, most people want to get into Bolton town centre quickly, shop and get home -- not spend an hour or so travelling.

I notice that the writer has sent her letter to the BEN -- if she thinks Bolton is so awful why read its local paper -- I'm sure Blackburn has a local paper, as does Manchester and Wigan.

Please leave Bolton to its loyal residents.

Loyal Resident

Bradshaw