REGARDING the subject of acceptance, or no, of common Lancashire phraseology (Letters, March 8), please, Jean Forrest, do not patronise me. I refuse to be baited, by anyone -- least of all another female.

I complained to the proper channels about being addressed as 'cock' by a sister at Blackburn Infirmary (LET, March 4) and I fully expected to be scoffed at -- by a certain few.

I remain adamant -- it wasn't the actual word that day in January, it was the tone of voice, the whole demeanour.

All right, cock?

C WILKIN-WYKE (Mrs), New Lane, Oswaldtwistle.