SIR: Thank you for your coverage of the frightening incident with an intruder we had on Saturday evening last, in your edition of May 13 - and for the kind and thoughtful remarks in your editorial comment: Catalogue of crime". Might I be allowed to make a personal observation on this subject, please?

We have long known how grand a town Bolton is: I am an Accrington lad, and we used to live in Bury. Bolton has always been an attractive place to visit for shopping, theatre and recreation. Bolton folk have always been friendly, courteous and helpful, and the welcome we have received from local folk and church members alike has confirmed that we were right to be glad to be coming to live here. We do seem to have had an appalling run of misfortune on the theft stakes, as your article accurately listed the four previous incidents. We don't think this reflects so much on the local community, as it does upon many years of under-funding of our police force. My brother is a police officer, and I know how frustrated he gets by the unrealistic budget limitations placed on the police by central government. The all but non-existent resources the local police have had for our previous four "minor" incidents highlights this.

Your posters advertising the Monday evening editions suggested we are living in fear. True, we were very frightened by this cowardly attack on my wife - probably as much because of what might have happened. However, we have taken advice on security, and have made simple, relatively inexpensive improvements which are helping us to feel safer. We hope to have the confidence to continue to welcome parishioners into our home. We hope to be able to offer help in the name of Jesus to all who come to us and ask. Above all, our confidence is in the Lord: He has called us to this town, and we look forward to many happy years here.

The Rev Andie Brown, St Luke's Halliwell

Chorley Old Road, Bolton

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