I FEEL compelled to respond to your correspondent Margaret Whittaker (Letters, July 30).

In the first place, she seems to begrudge paying the entry fee to Bury Agricultural Show, even though she was aware that local charities were to benefit from the funds. Isn't it surprising how people will spend a lot of money to see a football match, or have an evening out in a pub, or have an expensive hairdo, but baulk at giving a relatively small amount to charity.

With regard to the number of entries in the home-grown vegetables section, I too wish that there had been a lot more, and I agree that my produce was not sufficiently good to win all the prizes. Competition would have made the show much more interesting. The letter also comments adversely about the home-made cakes and biscuits.

The point is that we did try to do something positive to make Bury Show successful, whereas all Margaret Whittaker appears to want to do is to moan and be negative. The show committee needs new members and it is obvious that more entries are needed in the produce sections, so will we be seeing some effort from Margaret Whittaker at next year's show? Surely she is capable of channelling all the energy spent on moaning into something more positive, practical and helpful?

JOHN TYSON,

Peel Brow Allotments.