HOW heart-warming it was to read that Blackburn and Darwen Council 'feels strongly that it has a moral obligation' to asylum seekers (Letters, September 9).

I wonder if those whom they represent feel the same altruism?

Funny, I have always presumed that the obligation of local councillors was to the people who elected them, not to every Tom, Dick and Harry from all corners of the globe.

Nor did I think that their function was to justify and unquestioningly implement the policies of central government, however ludicrous and detrimental to the environment of local people. It seems I was wrong. However, if they must indulge in misplaced philanthropy, I sincerely wish they would do it at their own expense and not the taxpayer's.

Personally, I feel no obligation whatsoever to illegal immigrants and prefer to retain a healthy scepticism about their reasons for being here.

P ALLEN, Nutter Road, Accrington.