I AM writing to say how astonished I felt after reading your article (LET, March 25) about having a "field hospital" for binge drinkers.

So the council doesn't decide to get tougher on these people who act like animals, instead they make it easier for them to get treatment if they hurt themselves committing acts of violence.

At what cost and whose expense? Presumably the same people who have had a huge rise in their council tax bills. People like myself who, although a pensioner, still pays income tax, full council tax and doesn't get any benefits of any kind.

If we were visiting Accident and Emergency, we would probably have to wait several hours to be treated and would have to wait weeks to see a specialist, let alone be treated by one.

It's time that this council got down to basics and spent our hard earned cash on getting the message across: "Do wrong and you will get punished."

We don't want thugs or drunks on our town streets.

There are lots of nice young people who should be able to go out for the night without these less responsible people spoiling it for them.

The message coming across Blackburn with Darwen lately would certainly not encourage people to move to this area.

In fact, it would have exactly the opposite effect. City status would seem to be slipping further and further away.

MRS IRENE THORNLEY, Coniston Drive, Darwen.