REGARDING the comments of Mr B Walsh (Letters, April 13) about teenage mums, does he not know the trend today is that they are more or less told: "If you don't want to work, just get pregnant and the state will look after you?"

We have more than our share in this area and when I hear of old people's homes being closed through lack of money, I am amazed that Mr Walsh advocates spending money on these irresponsible girls and boys.

As an "old codger," I think it's lack of parental control that is the trouble today and we old ones are the people who are having to put up with it in more ways than one.

F NEWSOME (Mr), Burnley Road, Padiham.