I AM indebted for the information that creosote oil is now a banned substance (LET, August 11). I had not read or heard of this from any other source and would have been doing my annual chore on my garage in September in total ignorance.

My family at least will be pleased, as they cannot stand the smell of it whereas I can find no fault. In fact, I find the smell rather pleasant and cleansing as it seems to clear the head much as liquid tar used to do.

I have had gallons of it on my hands and arms over the past 40 years and have had no ill effects (as yet).

When I first started work, the product we made had to be dipped in almost boiling pitch and I had to stand over a trough of the hot black stuff and, although we had an extractor fan to take off most of the fumes, I can honestly say that I did not find it unpleasant.

This was in the 1940s and I have heard the older men talk of mothers bringing their children to smell the hot pitch as it was supposed to be good for a "bad" chest.

As regards creosote, I can say nothing wrong about it. It is one of the finest wood preservers you can use and cheap, too.

I think all this has been dreamed up by some under-employed scientist to create the impression that he is earning his salary.

JAMES SHORROCK, Cheltenham Road, Blackburn.