I WRITE in reply to the letter (Oct 25) from Carol Nelson of Wisbech, who recently visited Bury and had the unfortunate experience of having her purse stolen on Bury Market.

The Chamber of Trade chairs the recently-formed high level action team, involving the police, local authority, Bury Markets manager, Mill Gate security, and Bury's community safety wardens, to deal with crime in our town centre. Together, we are preparing a retail crime prevention scheme which will make Bury a safe and more pleasant town to visit and shop in.

This scheme should soon be operational, subject to funding etc., and we hope that no-one will then have to suffer the unfortunate experience of Mrs Nelson.

In the meantime, we applaud the action taken by the market stallholder, and hope his generous gesture will be long remembered.

ROBERT GETHING,

president,

Bury Chamber of Trade.