WITH reference your article "Hot drinks are off the trolley" (LET, July 16), mention was made of the closure of the sweet trolley operated at Blackburn Infirmary by the WRVS.

This trolley has been in operation for many, many years.

I, myself, have operated it for 17 years. There was no prior consultation as to its closure.

The ladies and myself, operating this trolley, were devastated when we received a letter on July 5 to say that the paid management of WRVS were closing it down.

One third of the merchandise on this trolley is toiletries. No one else provides this service to patients.

As for it running at a loss, the tea trolley, the sweet trolley and the shop all use the same stock.

We would like the public to know that the closure of our sweet trolley was very much against our wishes.

Surely, being a member of the WRVS is to offer service.

M W KENNEDY and W MANSFIELD, P THOMPSON and V COUGHLIN, Blackburn (full address received).

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