SO the MP for Pendle, Gordon Prentice, considers car theft petty crime (LET, July 2). If he had ever had his car stolen, I think he would change his mind.

As for the people who complained about the police helicopter keeping them awake, I can only say they should be thankful that efforts are made to detect crime 24 hours a day. I am sure they would lose a lot more sleep if their only method of transport was stolen.

W ASHTON, Netherton House, Clayton Street, Great Harwood.

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