BEING an aged citizen of times long gone, I can recall my old grandad telling me about how the American Civil War brought about a cotton famine in the Lancashire mills.

And I'm sure I'm not alone among the 'oldies', especially those who were in the services in the Second World War, in wondering what is going on in this country now.

We often hear of the 'bad' old days, but at least the young ones then did not have a problem with the word NO. They even understood as many as five letters when used. Truth and trust were both given and received.

So, a word to the misguided protestors - please go home, you've made your point.

We all tend to wear blinkers when it suits our cause, but I wonder just how far their cause would have got in Saddam's back yard? I do hope that the service people are spared the presence of these people while they are getting on with their job.

RGQ Bare, Grange Street, Morecambe.