RECENTLY a friend and I visited Bury market for the first time, simply because there were tickets available on a coach trip being arranged locally.

We are so glad that we came and felt we must congratulate everyone involved in making the market such a vibrant and interesting place to visit. I had wonderfully fresh fruit, vegetables and flowers, a marvellous variety of goods, and the stall-holders and staff were so warm and friendly.

With 20 minutes to wait for our coach home, we succumbed to the lure of an Eccles cake each and, as we stood eating them, a lovely lady on a nearby stall invited us to sit with her. That act of kindness and the lady's friendliness and genuine concern that we had had a good day in Bury, warmed our hearts. To be honest, we haven't stopped talking about our visit since!

We really would like you to pass on our thanks to everyone for a lovely day out and, brace yourselves, we will be returning soon.

ELIZABETH WHITE, Flintshire, N. Wales.