SIR: I couldn't let your front page article by Matthew Taylor (BEN, March 13 1998), about a much loved lollipop lady, Mary Morales, who is being put into retirement by Bolton Council, who say she is too old,to pass without comment.

If this rule applied to Mary, whose hours worked and salary goes almost unnoticed - surely it must apply to Cllr Foster, Chairman of Planning, who is 70 and takes around £17,500 per annum from the public purse. I think fair is fair and the money could employ four or five more lollipop ladies per annum - or a younger man.

Mr Bill Collison

Bolton Road, Kearsley

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