SIR: Pride where has it gone, why did it go? Oh for the days when mother stoned the step, polished the window sill, and swept at the house front.

Why has society turned so slovenly. In town people wilfully drop all kinds of litter. Where I live, children daily drop ice pop wrappers, crisp bags and pop cans. Surely their parents must know they've littered the street it's so obvious, and then I wonder if the parents care.

For example - two weeks ago someone from May Street left a carpet out with the bin. The bin was emptied, the carpet left behind. The bin was duly taken in, the carpet left. Today it is still there, unrolled across the back street.

How can people behave like this. I don't even suppose this letter will make a ha'porth of difference.

Ian Jackson

Dorset Street, Bolton

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