SIR: I have read in your newspaper over the last few days, the concerns expressed by some, that voters have become apathetic and that the turnout on the day of the local elections was low.

I would ask that this be viewed in a different perspective.

Had I not read in the newspaper that a local election was taking place, and having received my Voting Number, I would have been blissfully unaware that anything was happening. For the first time in my voting life I did not vote. The reason for this was that in order to vote I would have needed to make an informed decision. In view of the fact that not one candidate knocked on my door, and only one election leaflet was posted through my letterbox (that of the Conservative candidate), I was not in a position to know who or what I was voting for.

Come on you candidates - fair's fair; I am willing to make the effort to attend the Polling Station and make my mark - but you, in turn, must make the effort; blow your trumpets, make your presence known, persuade us that it is YOU that we want to represent us. Then perhaps you can wipe out the apathy. In the end it really is up to you to reach all of the people all of the time. You lead - many will follow.

?Ann M Redburn,

Dixon Street, Westhoughton.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.