I WAS amazed at the lack of response to the recent letter from Albion who attacked the "whingeing yuppies" in the north of the borough. Albion, whoever he/she is, has a wicked sense of humour.

First of all, let me declare my interest. I live in Whitefield and work in Ramsbottom. Our writer, A. Yuppie (Your Letters, June 20), obviously can afford to live in a relatively affluent area. The reason they are unable to afford a decent car is because they are probably paying a huge mortgage on their over-priced house (not much chance of finding a three-bed house for £50-£60K in Affetside, unlike in Radcliffe!). If they want a nicer car then they could always flog their present house and buy one in Radcliffe (not such a good idea, eh?).

People who live in Affetside and such areas of "poverty" as farms in Turton (Malcolm Jackson, Your Letters, June 20) shouldn't really criticise Albion regarding his/her comments on Radcliffe and Whitefield. What do these people know about Radcliffe's problems?

Radcliffe has become the "sink area" for the south of the borough. Recently, a refugee who fled Iraq a few months ago, was robbed at knife-point in his house in Radcliffe at 2am by a couple who had a teenage boy with them.

I read that up to 50 pupils are waiting for appeals to get into Parrenthorn High School in that blighted area of poverty called Simister. I wonder how many people are waiting on appeal to go to Coney Green or Radcliffe High? None, I would guess!

I sincerely hope that Radcliffe gets a new school before Radcliffe High falls down (70-years-old and it shows) or the single-storey, jerry-built, breeze-block wonder Coney Green sinks into the marsh on which it was originally floated. At least then the residents of Greenmount, Brandlesholme and Ramsbottom will have somewhere nice to send their children when the over-subscribed Woodhey High School cannot accommodate them.

If I, like Albion, have offended residents of the more affluent areas, then so be it. I feel no envy towards residents who have bigger and more expensive houses than myself, and live in slightly more up-market areas. I just choose to spend my money on other things. I am quite content and just wish that people who are better off than me would realise how lucky they are.

Now stop moaning!

PAUL TAYLOR,

Band C house.