SIR - With reference to the letter from Mark Starr of Leigh Sinton in which he, once again, imparts his superior knowledge on the economy. This time, affecting those people he refers to as the working classes and pensioners who, according to him, were totally ignored in the recent budget.

He obviously does not, himself, fit into either of those categories, otherwise he would certainly have noticed that there are to be increases in child allowances to help families and that pensioners are to receive an increase of 25 per cent in their heating allowance this year - this comes on top of free bus travel anywhere in the country.

As a widowed pensioner who started work at 15 and worked until 68, and being a non car driver suffering from bronchial asthma, help with my heating costs and free travel pass are a huge blessing.

I'm sorry that I am not particularly concerned with the worries that Mr Starr has such as the price increases on booze and tax increases on gas-guzzling cars and - heaven forbid - higher tax on plastic bags (this is obviously going to hit all those millions who might have a plastic bag fetish).

As far as your shopping goes, Mr Starr, just get yourself a decent, strong, re-usable bag and, if you don't have a car, you can buy one with wheels!

J GREEN, Malvern.