IT is bad enough that 400 old folk in East Lancashire were left in fear of being left penniless after a blunder over their claims for benefits.

But it is downright insulting that the council involved thinks it is too much trouble to apologise to them for the anxiety they underwent.

For, surely, is that not the upshot of the decision by Blackburn with Darwen Council that it would involve a 'major manual' exercise to send individual letters of apology to pensioners who were written to and wrongly told they had not returned forms of renewing their housing and disability benefits?

The council putting its convenience before consideration for people is quite wrong and waiting until the old folk concerned get in touch with them before offering them an apology rubs in the rudeness.

And it is high time that the benefits processing system at Blackburn with Darwen -- horrendously bogged down in unacceptable delays since it was farmed out to the private sector firm, Capita -- improved its efficiency as well as its respect for people.

Instead of offering public the red-herring excuse its abysmal service is being unfairly compared with those of councils who do much better instead of with the performance of ones of similar size and population, those responsible should get on with what they are supposed to do -- and with somewhat more civility.