WHAT a pity that the editor deemed it necessary to qualify the publication of J Fielding's excellent comments (Letters, February 9) with an apologetic footnote.

It is apparent that today's journalists are clueless as to the widely-held views of the people who read their sanctimonious drivel with dismay.

Just one good investigative journalist could prevent the many injustices being perpetrated against the English population willy-nilly, by minority pressure groups, but sadly, there is not one brave hack among them.

Oh, they'll jump in wholesale crying 'shame' following some harrowing event, such as old people being uprooted from their homes to make way for asylum seekers -by then their pseudo-pity is too late.

I don't recall a follow-up story on what happened to these unfortunates.

Perhaps these ineffective modern scribblers should rewrite some of the famous quotes from their betters in a past age. How about Voltaire's "I disagree with what you say, but I defend to the death your right to say it, as long as it is politically correct, of course."

Somehow the amended version doesn't have quite the same bite - does it now?

JEAN CROWTHER, Warmden Gardens, Blackburn.

Footnote: Presumably you refer to the closures, as a cost saving, of the Shadsworth House and Laneside homes for the elderly in Blackburn, which we covered in great detail.

Both homes closed in mid-January 1999, two months before NATO attacked Serbia and Kosovo. It was a further two months later when it was revealed that the buildings had been put on stand-by to house Kosovar refugees following a request from the Government. We have reported several follow-up stores on the former residents of the old folks homes, including a front page report (LET, January 26, 1999), on claims that seven residents had died since moving out of the homes. We also reported (LET, March 20, 1999) how relatives of the elderly people had complained that their relatives' mail had been intercepted by council staff.

We cover all events even-handedly and Mr Fielding complimented us on carrying his previous letter because "not many newspapers would."

Seemingly, this writer of "sanctimonious drivel" can't win - Editor.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.