SIR - Recently, the Worcester News reported that an employer in the area was to declare 100 employees redundant.

As it happened, my bills from BT and nPower had both just arrived in the post. I noticed that the BT invoice had come from Durham and the nPower notice had come from Gateshead, Tyne and Wear.

The thought occurred to me that the Government should be steering a few jobs towards Worcester.

Most people in this city are on the minimum wage, or less, where unscrupulous employers can get away with it.

There are too many low paid jobs in Worcester shops and offices where trade union representation is conspicuous by its absence.

In spite of this, as has been reiterated many times before, this city always gets the lowest handouts from central Government for every function - transport, police, health, education - you name it.

An apologist, either for this administration in London or their pre-1997 predecessor, once remarked: "But we do live in a pleasant part of the country!"

On a dark rain-sodden winter's day I am not so sure about that but, in any case, we cannot live on fresh air.

DE MARGRETT, Worcester.