THE restoration of the Exchange Arcade in Fleming Square, Blackburn, is a transformation to which we can look forward, but the loss of several lovely buildings in or near the town centre is saddening.

I refer mainly to the "Congregational Cathedral," as it is often called on St Peter Street; the old Evening Telegraph offices, which admittedly could not be converted when the newspaper moved; and the possible loss of the lovely church where my grandparents worshipped and my parents were married -- St Anne's.

The damage done to the church by vandals has proved to be worse than it looks from outside and, apparently, it will need almost a complete rebuild, which these days is extremely expensive. The insurance cover is not sufficient, so Salford Diocese claims.

However, we do keep the Cathedral and St Alban's -- which was built as one until it was realised then that there was no Catholic cathedral below Carlisle -- so they built one in our next city, Lancaster.

GORDON PADGETT, Bridgewater Court, Bath Street, Blackburn.