HOW heartening it was to read that Bury police have prosecuted 250 "irresponsible drivers" during their on-going campaign. I, for one, sleep soundly in the knowledge that the highways of Whitefield, Unsworth and Hollins are lined with manned speed cameras, particularly when the sun is shining.

Well done lads!

I have just one minor suggestion. Is it feasible for some of the officers who carry out this taxing role to be redeployed to end the unprecedented crime wave hitting the above mentioned areas? This includes armed robberies in the last few weeks on Hollins post office, the Halifax, Parr Lane (twice), a chip shop, a social club, a 91-year-old mugging victim and a massive wave of car thefts in Unsworth.

We locals are advised by the police that the area is now one of - if not the - worst in Greater Manchester for robbery. Given the non-existent level of policing - apart from that bringing in motoring fines - it is easy to understand why.

Police Range Rovers doing the daily run to the motorway and officers hiding in bushes, waiting to pounce on wicked motorists, are no substitute for a real police force willing to fight real crime.

UNSWORTH RESIDENT

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