BEFORE Christmas I had a most pleasant Christmas shopping trip to Bury.

"Pleasant" and "Christmas shopping" are not words that normally go together in my experience, what with the crowded roads, the search for parking space, the worry about outstaying the allotted parking time and the queues in the shops. So why was this shopping trip different?

Well I decided to take advantage of the ELR special half-price tickets and I travelled by train to and from Bury. I took the first train of the day, thus avoiding the worst of the crowds in town, and felt such a sense of freedom as I sat comfortable and warm for the ten-minute journey. It was quiet and peaceful and altogether a wonderful way to go to the shops.

To my amazement the train was almost empty. Why? If this train service was on offer all the time I would never take my car into Bury.

Come on shoppers use this marvellous asset when it's available and help to take some of the polluting cars off the road.

PATRICIA BARRETT,

Bolton Road North,

Ramsbottom.