ON Monday August 21, I made four separate phone calls to the police, as an abandoned car was being vandalised.

Each of these calls was around three to four minutes, none of which were answered.

The first around 7.50pm, then every 10 minutes.

Twice I asked the operator if anyone was in the main control room at, wait for it, Leigh.

She replied I would just have to be patient. I rang again around 9pm -- this also was not answered, so I dialled 999 which was around 35 seconds in replying.

I apologised for using 999 and explained I could not get through on the 5050 number and used the 999.

This is a ridiculous situation. Lives could be lost -- people could be hurt.

I ask how many people must just give up and do nothing? They can't go to their local police station because it's either been pulled down or closed.

Even the letter boxes are nailed up or non-existent and the phone on the door doesn't work.

Priorities are all wrong in this country today.

Bill Collison

Kearsley Environmental

Action Group