Stall staff scaring off customers
How many other readers are being driven to do a sprint of Olympic standard to get through The Mall in Preston without being accosted by the pushy sales people trying to sell mineral cosmetics, hand potions etc?
I'm sure the shops on that stretch must be missing out on a lot of passing trade, because it's not safe to stop and browse the shop windows.
Within seconds you are joined by a salesperson who sticks better than a barnacle to a boat. How many times can you say "no" without resorting to rudeness?
Several work colleagues now use different shops in their lunch-breaks as it gets annoying that you can't nip on a quick errand to the health food store or the stationery shop without someone wanting to transform your face or examine your hands and nails!
It's got so bad we discuss tactics at work how to avoid them: Go with a colleague to create a diversion, plan alternative routes... Desperate measures when all you want to go is go and get a sandwich for your lunch.
The Mall should set up a stall by the entrance issuing big hats emblazoned with the word "NO".
Kelly Holmes-in-the-making (name and address supplied)

Sort out problems in this country
The situation every one of us faces is critical. The credit problem has been allowed to get out of hand and now we are depending on a solution contrived by probably the most reactive government in the last 20 years.
We are expected to bail out the banks while the Government is happy to carry on bankrolling wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
The billions already spent, and the lives of so many brave men and women cannot be justified in the light of our current economic situation and most importantly in the light of history.
The most senior of our military commanders has stated that there is no possibility of a decisive victory in Afghanistan.
The truth is that we cannot be behaving like imperialists when the threat to this country has come solely from home-grown terrorists, not from Iraqis and Afghans.
We are a proud people but we can no longer put everyone's problems right.
Norman Abram, Cottam

Banks must pass on benefits to public
We've just witnessed the latest in a series of bail-outs from the Government at the expense of the British taxpayer. Sheepishly, the opposition parties nod this through, saying that they can see no alternative.
But where are the guarantees for working families with mortgages or those repaying loans or credit cards? The British taxpayer is bankrolling the high street lenders, but has the Government and opposition parties really scrutinised the deal?
Banks that have clearly benefited from the Government's intervention, have a moral obligation to pass on the full benefits of the interest rate cut to hard pressed householders struggling to pay their debts.
If instead the banks use the rate cut to increase their own profits, at our expense, then we should be outraged.
Furthermore, billions of pounds, euros and dollars continue to sit untouched in tax havens around the globe, hidden away by those most responsible for our current economic woes. International action is needed now to bring an end to the two-tier world, where the super-rich legally hide from their fair share of the tax burden.
For those that say this is not possible, the wealth of international terrorist networks was quickly frozen and redistributed when co-ordinated action was taken.
We need moral courage, vision and real changes in legislation from our politicians during difficult times. Right now, we don't have that, and the British people are being, quite literally, short changed.
Peter Cranie, European election candidate, Green Party, North West England

Driving disgrace
Yet again in Lancashire we have had an example of appalling police driving, resulting in a fatality. Yet it would seem this was only "careless" driving (Evening Post, October 7).
What a travesty. Sad to say this is an "I told you so" letter. Deterrent sentences may send a message but don't hold your breath.
Name and address supplied

Register to vote on issues in your area
This autumn, readers have the chance to register their voice so they can have a say on issues.
Councils are sending an electoral registration form to every home.
We are encouraging everyone to fill in this form. It's straightforward and doing so means you are included on the electoral register and have the chance to vote at any forthcoming election.
If anyone is worried about their personal details being available, just tick the box saying you want to opt out of being on the "edited register" which is the one firms can buy.
For information about elections, go to www.aboutmyvote.co.uk.
Andrew Scallan, The Electoral Commission

Thank you for kind hospital donations
Lancashire Care NHS Foundation Trust would like to thank the League of Friends for their continued support to mental health services at Ormskirk Hospital.
Earlier this year they kindly donated six recliner chairs for patients on Bickerstaffe Ward, at a cost of £600 per chair.
The League of Friends also give small gifts to patients on special occasions such as Mothers' Day, Easter and Christmas. Their kindness is greatly appreciated.
The Trust provides mental health and substance misuse services for a population of around 1.4 million people across the whole county.
Kate Henry, via email

Give youth a chance
Your recent correspondent's fears about Lancashire being relegated from division one of the County Championship, proved unfounded. They finished precisely half way, although I agree it's not good enough. It's time youth was given its chance at Old Trafford.
Observer, via email (name and address supplied)

GET IN TOUCH
I recently wrote to your paper
requesting photos of men in the Home Guard and I am greatly
indebted to two kind ladies who offered me their assistance.
I therefore thought that it might be even more productive if I asked for information about both my parents. I am writing my mother's life story and the more snippets of information I can get hold of, the better.
Mum was Lena Sumner and she played the piano (later organ) in various clubs in the Preston area. Dad was Tom Sumner and he worked for English Electric until his death in 1951.
They lived in Henderson Street. Later mum moved to Symonds Road.
Dad was in the Homeguard - English Electric B division, so any information there would also be appreciated, especially photographs as I have very few of either of them.
I would be extremely grateful for any information, no matter how small, on 01772 812845.
Anne Wynne-Jones, Tarleton

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