REGARDING your article Racial Harmony Group in Turmoil (LET, June 19), may I say 'Well done!' to County Coun Joe French for having the courage of his convictions.

For him to walk out of a Burnley and Pendle Racial Equality Council's meeting to calls of 'ignorance' by fellow members, who obviously sought safety in numbers, deserves a round of applause!

To chairman Qazi Jehangir, I would say: 'Come into the real world.'

If we are all British, why don't we all speak English?

Many of my neighbours are Asians and they are friendly, charming people.

So when walking along Bracewell Street from Netherfield Road to Temple Street last week, although there were a lot of people about, why did I not hear one word of English?

Why did I ask myself: 'Is this Nelson or am I at the Mad Hatter's tea party?'

It's a puzzlement!

WINIFRED BRENNAN (Mrs), Temple Street, Nelson.

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