REGARDING the amount of debt uncollected by Blackburn with Darwen Council, M Haworth (Letters, January 18) suggests that some of that money could have been spent on employing a warden for older people who are on their own, but not in sheltered accommodation.

I agree, but what a hope!

I live in so-called warden accommodation, but three months ago our warden resigned and, so far, has not been replaced.

True, we do have the compromise of a 'shared' warden, but I assume the fee we pay for such service was originally based on the care of a given number of residents -- which has since doubled and is the responsibility of one warden instead of two.

Meanwhile, I suppose residents must just keep paying up while the council tries to placate us by suggesting that £1million isn't really so much, considering what is collected.

But a million pounds is a lot of money -- our money -- in anybody's book. Yes, it would be more if they didn't put up rents above the inflation rate every year to help pay for those who don't.

E CARR, Redvers Road, Darwen.