THE letter from Mr Wormald (August 9) on the level of business support for the Smithills School Senior Brass Band seems to have fostered some debate and touched on a few sensitivities.

When I read his letter I was at first a little surprised at the strength of feeling expressed, but from the situation he outlined it was clearly a call for help, and should have been viewed as such.

As pointed out by your correspondents on this issue, and indeed by Mr Wormald, many businesses do give valued support to causes for which they are no doubt grateful.

Whilst resources are not unlimited there are probably still sources of support still left untapped, and maybe even unaware of the contribution they could make, and it is to these that approaches should be made.

I have followed the astonishing successes of the Smithills Senior Brass Band reported in your paper. This band have been awarded the title of best School Brass Band in the World and have regularly won local, national and international contests.

It's very high standards continue and the town is and should be proud of these achievements.

The young people associated with the band are a credit to themselves, their school and the community and the positive spin-off benefits to the town are invaluable.

This is in no small part due to the enthusiasm generated by Mr Wormald and his staff at Smithills.

It makes good business sense to be associated in any way with this work as current sponsors no doubt appreciate, and I encourage other businesses who perhaps haven't yet thought of doing so to consider such a mutually beneficial arrangement.

M Taylor

Sharples Avenue

Bolton