WORCESTERSHIRE has a growing Polish population and so it's only reasonable that the host community makes a few concessions as far as language is concerned.

The news that Polish women are being offered antenatal clinics in their mother tongue should therefore not cause undue concern. A number of banks have already started printing literature in Polish and the latest development is merely a continuation of the process that will aid the assimilation of these people into our society.

However, the Worcester News would sound a note of caution. We should remember that the news comes just after the health trust concerned decided to reduce the number of antenatal clinics. True, the trust has assured us that the move will have no effect on other areas of health care.

Nevertheless, we still need to keep a close watch on this. And what must be avoided is any drift towards a group of people being treated as special cases - this will only provoke resentment within the host community and ultimately test the limitless tolerance for which the British are renowned.