I WOULD like to say how much I agree with Mr Neil Aspden's letter about pubs (LET, January 8).

I am retired and often find myself in the same boat. I have lived in the Four Lane Ends area of Blackburn all my life and recently we have seen the demise of such pubs as Little Harwood, Cemetery, Thwaites, Seven Trees, Bastwell, Oozebooth, Carlton and Shear Bank.

Surely when all of those were open, one of them would be open in the afternoon.

RICHARD J FRANCE, Quebec Road, Blackburn.