IWAS most interested to read your report regarding the employment of Portuguese workmen to lay the traditional Lancashire cobble stones in the Blackburn town centre development, for I think that the Portuguese may well have something else to offer in this direction.

During a recent holiday in Portugal, I noticed that their method of constructing footpaths was a very simple one, which was extremely efficient and, what's more, very pleasing to the eye.

They have discontinued the use of flagstones, with all the inherent problems of subsidence and cracking and now use concrete, which is outlined into squares of whatever size they choose, so giving the impression of beautifully laid flagstones.

Consequently, this gives the advantage of no subsidence, cracking or weeds, as is the case with individual flagstones.

The cost of this operation must be substantially cheaper than our traditional method and I heartily recommend it to the appropriate department of the town council.

Is this, at last, something we can learn from one of our European partners? The only question mark about this system, however, is that I doubt it is chewing gum resistant!

IAN HOLT, Ramsgreave Drive, Blackburn.