ON November 19 a report in the LET stated that a pop star who was destined to switch on the Blackburn Christmas lights arrived in King William Street 90 minutes late for the event, due apparently to snow and the volume of traffic.

The most disturbing factor of this report was that the personality, although 90 minutes late, stepped from a police car which had been involved in a high-speed drive. Was this a state of affairs requiring immediate action? I think not.

I was unaware that a police car could be commissioned to chauffeur someone who is already over one hour late. Surely due to this a taxi could have been deployed?

Some months ago an incident took place with a number of youths who were creating in my elderly neighbour's garden. She was obviously terrified and called the police who told her that they were unable to attend but would do so the following day. The following day another call was received by my neighbour to say they were unable again to attend.

Fortunately for my neighbour an efficient community police officer attended and youths were apprehended.

Police should have other duties to perform than be involved in a high-speed drive of this nature.

D MOSS, Whalley Old Road, Blackburn.