IN reply to Elaine Hutchinson (Letters, November 29) and Marie Thompson (Letters, December 4), regarding their experience with Scottish bank notes, let me tell you what happened to me.

I helped out at a charity shop, which is rented from Blackburn Council every week for a different charity. Ours was a Blackburn youth charity and a young man spent £3 on goods for which we accepted a Scottish £20. It was forged. That day we lost £17 -- money we could ill afford to lose.

I have since learned that this shop is being targeted by people with forged Scottish notes -- because those passing them know different staff run the shop every week and so they aren't easily recognised.

So beware, all those running this shop -- the one near the TSB Bank just off Northgate. Mrs Hutchinson and Mrs Thompson should not blame shopkeepers for their predicament, they should blame the forgers -- they are the ones that need stopping -- now.

H HAMER, Lowther Place, Blackburn.