I HAD just had coffee at Blakey's in Blackburn and when I was leaving got caught up with school parties leaving King George's Hall after watching the Christmas panto.

What an experience! There were hundreds of happy, smiling and excited children, all chattering about the show, the 'best bits' like the baddy, Wishy Washy and the fireworks. Outside of the building there was a convoy of coaches lined up to take the children and their teachers back to school.

I stopped to chat and discovered that staff from the hall were out on the streets (in the freezing cold) with walkie-talkie radios and positioned all through the hall to guide the children from their seats to their coaches in complete safety and security, just as they had got them into their seats some two hours earlier.

According to a teacher I spoke to, they all felt so safe and so well looked after and they had all had a wonderful day out.

Well done to King George's Hall, for encouraging teachers and children to come into Blackburn and use your wonderful building and for taking your customer-care so far.

It was a pleasure to see the magic you brought to those groups of children and teachers alike.

By the way, I'll be back in a couple of days to get my tickets for Aladdin. I can't wait.

M HINDLE (Mrs), Park Avenue, Great Harwood.