I FEEL I must object to the headline used on the front page of last week's Citizen.

A dead whale being washed up is an extremely rare occurrence. Our City Contract Services team were asked, by the coastguard, to remove the whale. We did so in good faith.

Unfortunately we were unaware of the Natural History Museum's interest. Had we been aware we would, of course, have retained the whale for them to examine. The incident was an unfortunate one but to hold the council responsible is unfair.

Furthermore, since learning of the Natural History Museum's interest, the city council has instigated a procedure to ensure it does all it can to make the relevant bodies aware, should such an incident happen again.

Mark Davies, Head of City Contract Services. Lancaster City Council.

o The Citizen was, perhaps, a little harsh with the headline 'Council gets it wrong over baby whale'.

The story was accurate but it is true to say the city council could not be expected to have known how to act when this type of incident happens so rarely - and it seemed to be doing the right thing by clearing up when asked by the Coastguard.

It is also pleasing to know that Mr Davies has reacted so positively by starting a process aiming to firm up procedures should it happen again.

Phil Fleming, editor.