SIR: Can anyone tell me why hundreds of our schoolchildren have to miss one days Education when their school is used as a polling station at Election time? I'm sure that, as only the space of a hall or classroom is required, then a different venue could be found e.g. church hall, community centre, playgroup building, sports hail or area office. This would only cause disruption to a minority.

Another factor is working parents who have to arrange an alternative for their children, pay extra to childminders or even, perish the thought, leave the children to their own devices.

P Anderton

Hall Lee Drive, Westhoughton

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