FIRST of all may I say thank you for the excellent coverage and beautiful photographs used in your recent tragic reports of Diana, Princess of Wales's death.

The outpourings of grief and sorrow, the hundreds of thousands of people queuing to sign books of condolence, the shock and sadness on peoples faces, says it all.

The people of this country are united in a way they never have, and perhaps, never will be again.

Some people have said the nation has gone mad, they think it's all "over the top." I heard one person say, "People die every day, people are mugged and robbed and there is no outcry."

Yes, these things do happen every day but how can we, just ordinary people, make a stand?

How can we let the world know how we feel? How can we express the grief, outrage and frustration in our hearts - there is nowhere to put these feelings until now. I think people coming to show respect for the Princess hold these feelings close to their hearts, these are the people who would march for peace, for truth and justice for all.

This is the only time they can show the magnitude of their feelings.

I believe the nation grieves not just for Diana, but for every young woman who dies and leaves behind vulnerable children, for all people treated with violence, prejudice or injustice in their lives, for all who have loved and lose and for those too cold and hard to express any real feelings for anyone or anything.

I believe the nation grieves for itself as well as the Princess.

She has brought these feelings out in us like no-one else could because she too has known sorrow.

LINDA M BURY (Mrs), Westwell Street, Darwen.

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