THE front page story about the vicious attacks on two defenceless old women makes shocking reading.

To have come so far in life, living through world wars and then suffering such an horrific ordeal is nothing short of shameful and soul-destroying.

Old people in far Eastern communities are revered and venerated as highly respected village elders.

But in this country, they are battered and robbed of their savings and any last vestiges of independence and security.

As per usual, in these cases, if the perpetrator is caught what will happen to them?

Do-gooders will no doubt become involved when they appear in court and tell some circuit judge who hasn't got a clue about living in the real world that poor old Mr X has had a bad upbringing and he has been let down by society.

So it's a slap on the wrist and let's give him some rehabilitation to wean him off drugs, all at the taxpayers expense.

And, what do the real victims receive in return? Anti-crime advice!

We should be ashamed that this is going on in our town and across the country in what are supposed to be civilised times.

The majority of us are too worried about who is going to be thrown out of that 'godawful' Big Brother house or gossiping about soap opera plots than dealing with and attempting to tackle real life issues.

Politicians are a waste of time. They give themselves big pay rises so why should they bother.

They don't have to see the real life local communities have to face every day?

We are in danger of becoming completely smothered in a blanked of apathy as we are continually drip fed a diet of vacuous and banal television programmes that keep the majority of us stuck to the sofa at night.

There is a real world out there with real people who need a helping hand to live out their twilight years without the spectre of violence and robbery entering their lives and we are letting them down.

We should hang our heads with shame.

Please pass on my best wishes to both ladies and wish them a speedy recovery.

Carl Fisher

Bolton