I KNOW that we will be having a general election in 2001, but weren't you beginning the political season a little early with your article about Hyndburn Tories accused of costing taxpayers more than £200,000 by helping former Councillor Adrian Shurmer win an election (LET, December 26)?

Should the claim by Labour leader Ian Ormerod stand up, it could be argued that there has been a serious breach of electoral law, but, of course, it is far too late for a challenge of the accounts, as Coun Ormerod must be aware.

So could he say on what grounds he is making his claims?

His sour grapes over the straight fight between Independent Adrian Shurmer and Labour's former council leader George Slynn are the giddy limit. Perhaps he has conveniently forgotten all the tactical voting agreements between Labour and Liberals at previous elections?

As for the suggestions that Labour would have held the seat in a three-cornered fight, the percentage swing against Labour was so immense, and the personal vote for Adrian Shurmer was so large, that any party would have had to have had a truly sensational candidate for there to have been no change in the result.

The implication that George Slynn's health was somehow undermined by the election is beneath contempt. Granted, it came as a rude shock to have a majority of 744 overturned, and end with one of 511 against him, but, surely, he must be aware that it could hardly have triggered off diabetes, which, I understand he is suffering from and is the only thing he and I have in common.

GRANVILLE BROADHURST, Sharples Street, Accrington.