HAVING previously questioned the usefulness of giving free computers to hundreds of supposedly-deprived homes in Blackburn, I now find that this hugely-expensive scheme is throwing millions at people who can hardly be called poor.

For consider the carping that's going on at present over 800 of the 2,500 homes in the town's Whitebirk area eligible for this government freebie being told they will have to pay to take part.

The upset is over the cable company, NTL, with whom they are signed up, not being prepared to give them free access to the Internet. The residents and opposition councillors demand to know why this problem was not resolved before the scheme was launched. But does the situation not query why these people were classed as poor in the first place?

They are happily able to shell out £14.99 a month for the digital TV and telephone services provided by NTL. If that's a benchmark of hardship then I wonder why so many working folk who can't afford digital telly are classed as well-off enough to buy their own computers.

If you ask me, if you're able to afford multi-channel TV, you don't deserve a free computer at other folks' expense.