SIR - I read with interest the article about the council fighting illness in its work force (Wednesday, September 19). While it is good to see they are taking seriously the health of staff, and making many improvements to benefit staff, the report seemed innocently incomplete.

I can't help feeling that despite all the good work they are obviously trying to promote, they haven't really addressed one reason people actually take days off. Has the council not noticed the lack of sunny days this year? Surely the weather hasn't been pleasant enough to tempt staff to "phone in sick".

Council statistics are certainly going to suffer in the face of global warming.

Perhaps in the light of this the council should be working harder to help residents recycle and reuse refuse, reduce their carbon emissions and use public transport, if only to ensure their absence statistics continue to improve.

SARAH GANDERTON, Worcester.