I READ with a feeling of bemusement your headline of Thursday, January 24, 'Keep out of our town', regarding the attempted recruitment of young people by nationalists in Chorley.

While I personally would prefer not to have to walk through crowds of white skinheads fighting Asians when I venture out in the evening, I fail to see why these people should be prevented from peddling their own brand of politics in what is supposed to be a multi-party democracy.

As the chief superintendent stated, it is not an offence to hand out a leaflet.

During the 2001 General Election, I was passing Market Walk and was offered a leaflet by the Conservatives.

As I do not ascribe to Conservative philosophy, I politely declined the invitation to read the leaflet. If I am approached by the nationalists with a leaflet, I will again decline.

However, although I am frequently appalled by some of the drivel that we hear from the Conservatives, I believe that if I want to live in a true democracy I should tolerate their views. Surely that must apply to all political creeds.

As for Mel Coombes complaining that these people go into local pubs to recruit, the Conservative candidate in the 2001 General Election made

Harry's Bar in St George's Street his second home even offering to buy me a drink on one occasion.

It seems to me that the attitude of 'traditional' politicians towards democracy is to promote it, so long as we the electorate stick to supporting those of the middle ground.

My message to anyone who finds the views of nationalists to be abhorrent and is offered one of these leaflets is to politely refuse it.

David Taylor,

(by email).