I RECENTLY came back to Blackburn and was re-housed in a house that required re-decorating throughout.

I was not in a physical condition to undertake this and the community housing worker contacted the Lancashire Probation Service to see if they could offer some assistance with labour. They sent a team of men on community service and I would publicly like to thank all the people that gave me help.

Everyone worked so hard to turn a house into a 'home' again. The men who came were well supervised and organised and all were gentlemen.

I recently read in your newspaper that the probation service was poorly funded. It seems such a pity when they are doing such good work for the community.

I cannot thank them enough. Care in the community and community service was such a benefit and help to me.

My seven-year-old son would especially like to thank Mr Alan Dickinson and Mr Michael Daly from the probation service and Neil, our community housing worker on the Galligreaves Estate.

BARBARA EDDLESTON, Taylor Close, Blackburn.

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