The views expressed by John Blunt are not necessarily those of this newspaper

IT may be that, without a fixed abode, homeless Blackburn beggar Michael Herrington is severely handicapped in realising the dream of which he spoke to readers of this newspaper this week - that of a place to call his own.

For without a proper address, how does he go about applying for, let alone getting an interview for, a job that might lead to that aim of him obtaining decent, secure accommodation?

But while Mr Herrington has some of my sympathy over having, after a day's begging, to bed down by candlelight in a rat-infested derelict terrace - and losing his home and possessions in a fire at his former home must have been a terrible experience - is he not putting himself at an extra disadvantage in seeking his goal of longer being homeless?

For in explaining his experience and what he endures, Mr Herrington was pictured in these pages with a ring dangling from his nostrils.

He is, of course, perfectly entitled to this eccentricity, but should he not also realise that, for all the difficulties he may have entering the labour market in his circumstances, he is hardly helping himself to do so by making himself a total turn-off to prospective employers?

Or, perish the thought, is that the idea?

And that public assistance more than self-help is his idea of the way out of his awful lot?

Mr Herrington might find that he would receive more help and less abuse if it and he appeared like he was fully determined to escape from beggary - and on this score, he does have a choice, does he not?

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