YOUR article in The Citizen (Sept 28) commented on pensioners on low incomes afraid to take advantage of a free holiday in case there were hidden costs involved. As the article confirms there are no hidden extra costs and it is hoped that the generous offer by the National Beneficiary Fund for the Aged will be taken up by eligible pensioners.

In April/May and September/October a lot of senior citizens take their holidays either at home or abroad. For those who go to the warmer climates where the weather is nice and warm but not fiercely hot the out-of-season lower prices make the holiday a very attractive proposition. A word of warning. Most people in their own homes have a non-slip rubber mat which they stand on when taking a shower. Alternatively they have a custom-built shower cubicle with non-slip flooring. Almost without exception showers in holiday hotels and apartments have their shower over the bath.

Nearly every time we go to Spain we hear of people who injured themselves by slipping in the bath. Sun tan lotion coupled with shower gel and hair shampoo is a potent recipe for an extremely slippery surface in the bath which increases the risk of a person falling and sustaining a serious injury.

To have a modicum of safety we (wife and self, both senior citizens) always take a rubber mat with us on holiday for a secure foothold in the bath. Its weight is negligible and it takes up minuscule space.

John Rowe,

Devonshire Road, Bispham.