I READ with interest the story (LET, September 20) about the possible closure of the Mind Centre in Blackburn as the council has withdrawn funding.

Having suffered from depression and anxiety for many years, I know how frightening and isolating mental illness can be. Having someone to talk to who understands can sometimes literally mean the difference between life and death for some people.

I then turned the page to read that the same council has won £320,000 funding for ethnic minority groups. Don't the council realise that by making these kinds of decisions they play right into the hands of the BNP?

Rightly or wrongly, people have a perception that ethnic minority groups and associations receive preferential treatment and this causes resentment and ill-feeling.

JANE SINGLETON, Avenue Parade, Accrington.