THE article 'Charity Shops Crisis Meeting' (LET, August 22) demands my strongest response.

If there are 'too many' charity shops in Clitheroe, why do they not go out of business? Because the people of Clitheroe welcome the particular and unique contribution of charity shops. Charity shops thrive because of demand.

More importantly, charity shops are much more than retail outlets. Each year they provide £100 million-worth of vital services for those in need. Anyone who wants charity shops to close must first explain how these services will be replaced.

Charity shops are also the great recyclers, encouraging the re-use of clothing and other goods, and they offer valuable volunteering opportunities to groups like the elderly and unemployed.

Unfortunately, some people underestimate these benefits. Indeed, Nigel Pratt, president of Clitheroe Chamber of Trade, has called charity shops a 'problem!' He belittles the work of the committed and dedicated volunteers who work for other people in need. Charity shops are legally entitled to sell up to 49 per cent 'new goods.' However, research shows that the average charity shop sells only eight per cent, and most of this is Christmas cards and promotional items like mugs and pens printed with a charity logo.

How can charity shops, selling over 90 per cent donated goods, be said to compete with other local traders? The answer is that they do not compete, and they do not compete unfairly.

Charity shops do understand and sympathise with small traders facing economic pressures, but really are the wrong target for their anger. Charity shops account for less than a quarter of a penny of every pound spent in retail outlets.

MR RICHARD GOODALL, The Charity Shops Group, (representing about 100 charities and 5,200 charity shops across the UK), Back Lane, Hampstead, London.

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