IN response to your Comment about Lancashire Social Services (LET, February 7), we have both been involved for more than two years in the Standing Conference of foster carers in Lancashire, which is a regular meeting of foster carer representatives from all over the country.

We are trying to improve conditions for children and carers. County Councillor Doreen Pollitt was the driving force behind the setting up of the conference and we feel you are very unfair to judge her commitment to child care in the light of the recent joint review body's findings.

We attended a meeting with one of the inspectors as representatives of foster carers. His line of questioning was very negative.

In relation to the number of children in residential, as opposed to foster, care, we would like to offer a suggestion - why don't you run a campaign to recruit more desperately needed foster carers instead of criticising those who are at least trying to do something about it?

JULIE FARRELL and HAZEL IBRAHIM (Foster Carers), Edgar Street, Huncoat, Accrington.

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