HOW dare Ron O'Keeffe, president of Blackburn's Chamber of Trade, try to stop the shopping trip to the Trafford Centre (LET, December 6).

I have a very dear friend from the Shadsworth area who was looking forward to going on this outing. For 51 weeks of the year she shops in Blackburn and, as she cannot afford her own car, this was her only chance to shop elsewhere.

My friend's husband fought for people in this country to have freedom of choice, and this includes the right to shop where they like.

I am disgusted that Mr O'Keeffe, a local business owner, should try to take away my friend's one shopping trip, which is both pleasure and her own personal choice.

As a protest at this behaviour, I will not shop in Blackburn again this year, especially not at shops displaying the Chamber of Trade logo in their windows and I would urge all other shoppers who care about freedom to do likewise.

Perhaps then Mr O'Keeffe and friends will stop trying to dictate to their customers where and when they can shop.

T HARDY (Mr), Infirmary Street, Blackburn.