I SUPPORT South Ribble Borough Council's decision to refuse to contribute £1,000 toward the Guild Hall reception for royal visitors on August 5 (Citizen, March 21).

Contributing to local events and to support street parties for local children is an alternative I fully support.

I would strongly object if any part of the council tax I am required to pay was used to provide hospitality for a monarch who, until quite recently, did not pay one penny in tax on her great wealth. Surely, 50 years of tax avoidance on such a huge income and amassed wealth has enabled her to put aside enough spare cash to host receptions for the great and the good in every town and city she visits during the jubilee year.

Perhaps Lord Shuttleworth, her representative in Lancashire who seems disappointed by South Ribble's decision, would care to fund the event himself. Then he could strut his stuff in his full ceremonial uniform and be proud of giving his best for his monarch.

I've sponsored two young people who in their different ways are earning the money to fund their activities. Perhaps the royals could copy the efforts of so many who deserve our support and set out to earn it by travelling around the land using ordinary transport (often late sometimes grimy and disappointingly unreliable) to greet their loyal subjects.

Many of their subjects -- not the great and the good -- but ordinary folk, would show them a way of life they could not imagine for themselves.

The rest of us could sponsor them and perhaps would thereafter give them the affection and respect they have had in the last 50 not--so glorious years.

Mildred Ford, Lolworth Place, Walton-le-Dale.