THE idea of providing 2,500 homes in Blackburn with free computers is beyond belief (LET, March 16).

Most of these families are already on limited incomes and will now have to find extra money, for software, renting an extra telephone rental line for the internet, otherwise they will find their existing telephone always engaged when using the internet -- and the cost of being on the internet.

I wonder how many of these computers will still be in situ after 12 months, or how many will have been sold to supplement the families' income. It is nothing but a vote-catching ploy.

H HAMER (Mrs), Lowther Place, Blackburn.