REGARDING your coverage (LET, April 12) of the tragic drowning accident on Saturday, April 10, when little Joe Hutcheon died, I was there when Joe went missing and was the first on scene to give him resuscitation.

I believe that it is wrong of you to try, in any way, to blame The Moorings pub, as it should be the responsibility of British Waterways to provide sufficient railings, not just in this area, but all along the canal.

This was an accident waiting to happen and I just hope that something good can come of this tragedy and that changes will be made to prevent other families from going through the pain and suffering Joe's parents are now experiencing.

I also think that it was very thoughtless and unsympathetic of you to show a picture of this public house.

JESSICA HALL, Rockcliffe Street, Blackburn.

Footnote: We attached no blame for this tragedy. We merely reported the facts around this regrettable incident which took a young life - Editor.

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