I AGREE with many of the sentiments expressed by Jim Evans (Letters, Saturday, September 10).

However, it must be remembered that in the community there are increasing numbers of people, like myself, in their 70s, 80s and 90s who are, due to age, physically incapable of taking paid employment.

Then we must admit that a class of people exists who have never worked in their lives and don't intend to. They get by quite nicely thank you, on their income support, topped up by the proceeds of crime.

There are also the "followers" - people such as cricket's Barmy Army. They have no describable support for their lifestyle, but clearly "work" is an alien word to them.

Finally, whatever Tony Blair may say, we have a surfeit of university students. All too often, these people finish up with a useless degree in philosophy, whatever, totally unsuited, because of their university training, for the real world. They are unemployable and £20,000 in debt at the age of 22.

That's why a certain number of immigrants should be welcomed to our shores.

D E MARGRETT,

Worcester.