AS someone who has taken 15 days off sick -- 12 of which were for incapacitating injury -- over a 21-year working life, I am appalled at the data in respect of Blackburn with Darwen Council workers (LET, February 14).

This is a sad indictment of not just our Council, but the British workforce in general. It would be even more disheartening to compare those figures with related numbers from other EU countries such as the Netherlands, Belgium and Germany.

I would also urge the council to release data that draws comparisons of absenteeism based on level of seniority. This might tell us another story!

I have total sympathy with those suffering genuine illness, but nowadays too many are inclined to elevate minor conditions to levels of greater severity merely to justify non-attendance: a headache becomes migraine, a cold 'flu, and even a challenging job sometimes becomes work-related stress!

As a council tax-payer, I resent bearing the cost for other people's lack of commitment, self-respect and responsibility.

ALAN J HOLDEN (address received).