THANK you for the comments of Mrs K M Livesey, of Pickering Fold, (Letters, January 6), regarding the crib outside Blackburn Town Hall.

Mrs Livesey may recall reports in your paper of the crib being vandalised several years ago. For that reason Blackburn with Darwen Council relocated the crib to the markets' complex, where it can be kept secure overnight and shoppers can still enjoy the nativity scene.

A similar situation also arose in Darwen where vandals set fire to the nativity scene a few Christmases ago. Now, during the festive season, it is housed in the market atrium to protect it from anyone who may take pleasure in destroying it.

Both these cribs are new and were provided by the council. They were very well received and proved to be a focal point for shoppers and carol singers during the festive period.

In an ideal world, we would be able to leave these decorations on public view 24 hours a day, but, unfortunately, a destructive minority do spoil things for the rest of us.

PAUL ISHERWOOD, Town Centre Manager, Blackburn with Darwen Council.

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