AS a person with no political axe to grind, I feel I must comment on your article (LET, May 16) headlined 'Shop sale rap for council's leader' and the comments by Coun Graham Jones, of Peel Ward, Accrington.

I find it mind-blowing that an inference was made that Coun Peter Britcliffe should not sell a shop premises he owns to a drinks retail firm.

In this day and age when shop premises are not an easy thing to dispose of, no-one in their right mind would turn down any offer for a sale such as this.

It is hardly Coun Britcliffe's fault that a drinks firm has made an offer for this shop.

The bottom line is this: the firm wishing to open an off-licence on these premises will have to gain a magistrates' licence before it can carry on with any plans. It appears that Coun Jones is getting carried away with himself trying to put the blame on Coun Britcliffe for trying to sell his shop when, in fact, he should be making any observations to the licensing authorities, or is it just a way of trying to make political mischief?

I wonder if this issue would have raised so much attention if the person selling this shop were a plain Mr Joe Bloggs. I think not.

FRANK FORDHAM, Accrington (full address received).