THE farmers of Haslingden must be breathing a great sigh of relief, since McDermott Homes decided to build their new houses next to the town's cricket club and not close to one of their farms.

Otherwise, the residents of the properties would doubtless be complaining about farmyard smells, early morning cockerels and cattle munching their hedges, not danger from cricket balls.

As things are, it is the poor old cricket club which has been made the villains of the piece -- even though it has been in the same location for years (LET, April 17).

The developer plainly knew that the cricket club was there. Prospective purchasers, on the other hand, may have viewed their 'dream home' on the Internet, with a rose-coloured screen-filter fitted.

Perhaps Southport Council should start printing warning notices, to let future wannabe-residents know that the tide does sometimes come in!

HARRY ROBINSON, Juniper Court, Woodside Road, Accrington.