READING Mr D Pratt's account (Letters, October 14) about things in pockets reminded me of some years ago when I was repairing washing machines for a living.

There was one house in Barden Lane, Burnley, where the normally spaced-out breakdowns suddenly increased. The machine wouldn't empty and I discovered coins in the pump preventing the impeller from turning. This failure happened about six times over a few days.

I suggested to the owner that she wasn't checking on her two young lads' pockets.

She told me she never had to do this before and I pointed out that 'before,' they were wearing nappies. She did learn to empty the pockets.

ALBERT J MORRIS, Clement View, Nelson.

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