BRIAN Attree (Your Letters, Dec 21) suggests that people who are dissatisfied with the way that Bury Council deals with them, should contact the Local Government Ombudsman. I have some advice, born of bitter experience: don't bother!

The person who holds this office is Mrs Patricia Thomas. In the last financial year, despite an increase in complaints, she did not find against Bury Council once! Elizabeth Filkin she is not!

In fact, if Mrs Thomas was to apply for the vacancy created recently by Ms Filkin she would stand a good chance of being appointed, as she is obviously the type of toothless "watchdog" that government approves of.

READER