REGARDING your report 'Bring Back Our Bobby' and editorial (LET, March 11), as a parent, ex-parish councillor and Council Tax payer, I was amused, but unimpressed, with the description used by Inspector John Clucas suggesting that Worsthorne (with Hurstwood) was a crime-free 'oasis.'

Although we don't have the levels of deprivation or 'disturbances' associated with other areas of the borough, any teenager will tell you how accessible are illegal drugs and, of course, alcohol. Indeed, two recent major drugs trials involved local men.

On the positive side, the honesty shown by the police spokesman must be recognised in acknowledging, in print, that we now actually have a two-for-one system (two parishes, one officer), for this has been the reality for many years.

It is to be hoped that this two-for-one trend is halted in rural areas as the Church of England set the pattern some time ago in the self-same parishes.

On this occasion, at least, it was not suggested that residents should be surcharged for basic police cover by the application of a parish levy to support an additional police constable.

Perhaps this is the third Way, New Labour talks about?

BARRIE SHARPLEY, Old Hall Square, Worsthorne, Burnley.