NO doubt many of your readers were as alarmed as I was on reading the reports (LET August 27/28) of the attack and injury of a 16 year girl in Corporation Park by a gang of hooligans. The park seems to be a haunt of groups of youths up to no good.

A few weeks ago our granddaughter, 17, who was visiting us from Cumbria and her chum, also 17, took a walk in the park. They had entered the conservatory when a group of Asian youths followed them in. The girls were subjected to, and affronted by disparaging remarks of a racial nature when the girls would not talk to them.

Isn't it shameful that a stroll in our lovely park cannot be enjoyed without the fear of being mugged or attacked by louts who are looking for trouble?

When these pistol-packing oafs are eventually arrested the police are required to use only 'reasonable' force for fear of being sued for assault.

If I say that often I am flabbergasted at the lenient sentencing of the courts for many, quite serious, crimes I am putting it mildly, but then, the prisons are full, are they not?

C A BAKEWELL, St James Road, Blackburn.

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