I THINK people who whinge about this country taking refuges from Kosovo should try to imagine what it would be like if it was their houses burning, their women and children having to hide in woods and eat plants and hearing the shooting of their husbands, fathers, sons, and brothers.

What a relief it was to turn to the news item about the people of Tameside, in Greater Manchester, being so moved by the stories of atrocities and hardship they heard from the 62 Kosovan refugees sent to a reception centre in their area that they decided to help when they returned home.

The local council is appealing for basic household essentials, and has promised to send the items in a lorry, which is to be donated to the refugees' village as a gift.

It is asking its 5,500 employees to make a small donation - possibly 10p a week - and to send council engineers, surveyors and other officers to help them rebuild.

It would be too much to ask other councils to follow this example perhaps, but wouldn't it be lovely if, before the refugees return to their devastated homes, we gave them a taste of the best of English life - strawberries and cream, for their children, at least!

RUTH BRAITHWAITE, Edmund Gennings Court, Chatburn.

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