REGARDING the interesting memories (Letters, March 24) recounting the trams, during the war I was 14 and working at the gasworks in Church.

One of my jobs was to empty and fill large cast-iron containers filled with a green oxide peat that became compacted due to the pressure of gas being forced through to filter it and make it as clean as possible.

The pungent smell of rancid gas clung to my clothes and clogs.

I lived at West End, Oswaldtwistle, near the Co-op dairy and, catching the tram home one hot and humid day, I sat on the long wooden seat at the rear. A young lady sat opposite and the conductor was upstairs collecting fares.

She suddenly jumped up and pulled the bell rope hanging from the downstairs roof and the driver did an emergency stop.

The conductor came running down the steps, inquiring what was wrong. She almost screamed: "There's a gas leak on this tram." The conductor replied: "You silly woman - it's an electric tram!"

I discreetly left at the next stop and walked home rather than face the wrath of that woman.

F CROSS (Mr), Royds Street, Accrington.

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