AFTER years of striving for justice tragic mum Brenda Rowley has finally got a written apology from the authority responsible for her disabled son being left alone to drown in his bath.

We think many people will view with disdain the size of the settlement award -- the princely sum of £1,750.

Although Mrs Rowley is adamant that justice and NOT compensation has always been the issue we can't help but feel she has been given a raw deal.

You can't enjoy a television programme these days without somebody suggesting there's a pot of gold at the end of every trip or fall. No amount of compensation could replace Brenda's son, Malcolm, but surely his life was more valuable than a spurious whiplash claim.

We are pleased that safeguards are now in place to ensure there can be no repeat of the appalling tragedy. A pity they were not in force in 1998.

JUST when you're having fun something (or somebody) has to come along and spoil things.

Troublemakers did just that, cutting short a holiday break summer scheme for youngsters with their senseless vandalism and abuse to people who were bending over backwards to help them.

Why do some idiots always insist on biting the hand that feeds them?

THERE'LL be more than a whiff of Southport air in Leigh town centre over the next week or so.

Donkeys and funfair delights promise to make Leigh the place to be.

So why not chuck away the car keys, forget the by-pass blues and back local enterprise and keep fingers crossed for sunshine.