Christmas has been cancelled in Rishton by order of Hyndburn Council.

I am sure readers, residents and visitors to the town will have noticed the pathetic lack of Christmas decoration in the town this year - and not for the first time.

While the Council's Christmas decoration budget seems to be concentrated on Accrington town centre, they should need no reminding that shops in Rishton contribute on an equal footing through the Uniform Business Rates collected by this council.

Areas where they trade should be considered in this budget, so that there is a level playing field for all.

One excuse for the lack of decorations over the years has been vandalism, but Rishton has now entered the modern technology arena with closed-circuit TV. So, come on, Hyndburn, play fair!

KEITH A BYROM (Prop.), Choose 'N' Use DIY, High Street, Rishton.

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