IT has been interesting to watch how our esteemed Conservative and Liberal Democrats have used the elephant issues at Blackpool Zoo as a political one.

Nearly everyone within Blackpool will now have been bill-posted by the Tories with leaflets spouting all sorts of stuff in connection with elephants.

It seems to have escaped Coun Callow and others that the people of Blackpool want politicians in place to discuss the real issues that effect the people -- education, social services, sports provision, job creation and tourism to name but a few.

It also seems to have alluded Coun Callow that by aligning his party and acting as the mouthpiece for animal rights organisations that if, by some miraculous way, his party was to get in power, he will have to continue to do their work or as with the Labou

Party at present, watch the animal rights organisations turn against his party.

Does he really believe that the animal rights people would stop at elephants if he says what he will do once in power and get rid of them? Of course not!

The issues then move on to the gorillas, then orang-utan, tiger, lions and eventually guinea pigs and rabbits.

We will, therefore, witness a gradual wind down of the zoo based on Tory support for animal rights. I hope not. So wake up Coun Callow and friends.

R MacIntyre,

Preston New Road,

Blackpool.