ON a recent visit to Bury I had to pass under a subway from the car park to the open market.

There was a chap sitting in the coldest spot in the subway, in a draught, with no sun, asking people to put a few pence in his hat so that he could buy a hot drink.

It was 10.45am when I heard this chap with the cap full of 1p and 2p coins say to the lad with a copy of the Big Issue: "Well, I'm off, I've made £25 up to now" and off he went with a big grin on his face.

I don't suppose this idle lad would have been up at 9am. If he was then that puts his "wages" at £14.28 per hour! For a 40-hour week he would be on £571 plus benefits of £37. Total: £608.

So the next time you see this chap ask him to buy you a drink!

A. GRAHAM, Bolton.

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