M. EDYVEAN (Your Letters, August 31) asks was I not brought up on the old adage: "Look after the pennies and the pounds will look after themselves".

I was brought up on many adages and given to understand that none of them was a universal guide to action. I soon learned that most have a follow-on saying which illustrates the adage's fallibility. For instance, those who look after the pennies, leaving the pounds to look after themselves, are usually described as "penny wise and pound foolish".

COUNCILLOR DEREK BODEN,

deputy leader, Bury MBC.