IWAS certainly amused, if not a little disturbed, that 'The Green Blue Line' article could occupy the Front Page headlines (LET, January 3).

You have seemingly recycled (pun intended) another thin story about the environment, dressed up by a new initiative.

Be assured, the police are merely using this publicity as a means to deflect criticism of their budget management in future years, while at the same time trying to earn cheap 'brownie points' from the environmentally-conscious.

I cite the "Unfortunately, it is a fact of life these days that short payback periods on environmental schemes are not there any more," comment of Lancashire Constabulary's capital project officer Anne Harling.

Surely, a more newsworthy lead article could have taken the form of an in-depth analysis of the introduction of the euro you featured on Page Three of your issue that day, or the health funding issues on Page Seven.

These are much more relevant issues to your readership, which I am sure has little interest in the rainwater on the roof of the police station (yawn).

ALAN HOLDEN, Eden Park, Beardwood, Blackburn.

FOOTNOTE: I am sorry you felt the story about green initiatives by the police did not merit its Front Page position. I do not agree with you. These were very important initiatives by the police -- a view shared by local MP Gordon Prentice.

I agree that the health funding issue is extremely important but would point out that this was our 'second take' on this particular story.

As for the euro feature -- again this is an important subject, but it is one which has received widespread coverage in other media for two days -- Editor.