IN the interests of public safety, I think Blackburn with Darwen Council's newspaper The Shuttle and Twin Valley Homes should be advising us what to do when the lights go out this winter.

The national Press have been telling us that power cuts this winter are almost certain, given the parlous state of the electricity generating industry.

Perhaps a personal experience of mine is worth relating. In January this year, in the middle of a very cold spell, we suffered a power cut for 17 hours. Our house is all-electric and we were in total shutdown.

It wasn't long before the indoor temperatures dropped significantly. The batteries in our torch expired and we hadn't any candles.

We didn't realise it at the time, but after about 14 hours we began to suffer from hypothermia.

Unable to have any hot food or drink and as we are on the wrong side of 60, we were lucky to come out of it without becoming ill.

But, you see, we were not prepared. As a result of this mind-concentrating experience, I would like to offer the following advice.

As soon as the power goes off put on some extra clothing, make sure you have more than one torch and spare batteries, stock plenty of candles.

People who have got gas are somewhat better off. If they have a gas stove it will provide some localised heating, hot meals and drinks, but the gas central heating won't work. The house radio phones will not work. The street lamps will be out, so be careful before you open your doors.

I sincerely hope that we do not have problems with our power supplies this winter, but I wouldn't bet on it.

EDDIE DUXBURY, Arthur Way, Blackburn.