I WOULD like to nominate for 'Rat of the Week' the person who travelled on the 12.30 bus, no 512, from Farnworth to Bolton on Friday, September 8, as did my friend and her mother and little girl.

On arrival at Bolton Bus Station, my friend left the bus. She was only off the bus for about two minutes when she realised she had left her handbag. She immediately reboarded the bus but her bag was gone. She had £180 of her own money and £90 of her mother's money.

My friend has diabetes, which has effected her eyesight. She can only see a very short distance. Her mother is deaf and dumb as the result of a stroke.

She also has difficulty in walking and only goes out very occasionally. She had been saving her disability allowance up for a few weeks in order to buy her grandson a birthday present and her granddaughter's Christmas present. My friend is a full-time carer for her mother and, because she does this and because of her own health, she cannot work outside the home.

She had been saving up her money as well for her Council Tax, rent and birthday presents for her six-year old son. Her husband has only just started a job after being unemployed, so money is very scarce. She now has no rent, no Council Tax, no food, no money and no birthday presents for her son.

Will this 'rat' be paying their Council Tax, rent etc this week? I think not. But be warned -- what goes around comes around.

My friend and her family are from London. We really have shown them what good old Northern hospitality is about - haven't we?

Margaret Clegg

Mossfield Road

Kearsley