SIR - I felt I had to write and express my shock at the allegations against Deana and Tony Cook in the Evening News (Saturday, January 14).

I was introduced to Deana and Tony through a friend. Deana was like a breath of fresh air to me. When she heard that my husband was in a nursing home having suffered a brain haemorrhage, and I had no relatives close by to help me with my son during the school holidays, or even for a night out, she offered to look after him and take him to the play schemes at Warndon Centre.

I was struggling to make ends meet and having to pay for my son to attend somewhere like Perdiswell at a cost of around £15 per day during the summer holidays. I just felt at last there was someone who cared. She also offered to have my son overnight anytime I needed a sitter.

Deana and Tony are the salt of the earth. Nothing is ever too much trouble for them they are always ready to help out. If I have to work late it is never any trouble to Deana and Tony to look after Andrew until I get there. I have never seen anyone who cares about other people so much.

PATRICIA TANSELL,

Worcester.