ON Thursday June 14, on the very sad occasion of my brother's funeral, a little ray of sunshine peeped through the gloom that my family were all feeling.

It was provided by the drivers on the road between Darwen and Pleasington between 11.30am and noon -- the wagon driver at the bottom of Dove Lane, who stopped and held back all in-coming traffic, the cars waiting at junctions, buses waiting at stops, another wagon waiting to pass an obstruction in the road; all stood patiently and allowed the whole cortege to pass.

In this day of hustle and bustle, with schedules and timetables to keep, I really can't thank these drivers enough for their patience and consideration.

Although I now live near Nottingham, I was born in Lancashire, and will always be Lancastrian. I have been proud of my home county many times in the past, but never more so than that Thursday.

LYN STEPHENSON, Cartbridge, Cotgrave, Notts.