I WOULD like to comment on your front page article in The Citizen (May 18). Firstly, your second paragraph may have misled readers -- the meals are not free. The recipients pay £1.70 for each meal. Incidentally, in St Annes the charge is £1.40.

As a volunteer WRVS member for meals on wheels over the last nine years I have always maintained that the meal itself is not the only benefit.

Many recipients are housebound and lonely and the volunteer may be the only person with whom they have regular contact. The service also provides an unofficial check on their welfare.

During the recent transition period I have seen first hand instances when the door was not answered immediately and the caller just left a note through the letter box. Bearing in mind that many people are infirm or hard of hearing, they are sometimes slow in answering. When a volunteer couldn't get any response they would first check with a neighbour. If this also failed, the situation would be reported back to the two caring and efficient organisers in the office.

They would then pursue the matter with keyholders and in extreme cases the police would be involved to gain entry. If, as can happen, a person has collapsed, what use is a note through the door?

I'm sure that all the volunteers could relate instances where they have been instrumental in securing help when needed.

I don't understand the comment from the spokesperson of the new regime regarding health and safety. Each meal was individually sealed and the temperature checked before leaving the kitchen. Indeed, the volunteers would not have accepted any which failed to be up to standard. These were delivered within a regular "window" of time which was appreciated by the recipient.

It is a privilege and responsibility to be invited into individual homes and understandingly references were mandatory -- does this requirement still apply?

Finally, as the majority of volunteers were retired, they could relate to the individuals to whom they were delivering meals and were willing to perform small tasks during the course of their duties. These covered small services such as posting letters, reading forms or taking in the milk etc. but all helped to establish a personal relationship that surely contributed to "care in the community".

Patricia Ryder,

Chain Lane,

Staining.