IREAD with interest the article entitled "You are never too old to work".

I feel that I must take exception to this, because of the experiences that I had while looking for work.

Last year, as a fairly fit 68-year-old pensioner, I decided that I would try and find part-time work in order to supplement my pension.

I wrote to and filled application forms in from quite a number of prospective employers, and nine times out of ten the firms did not even take the trouble to reply to my letter or application.

When I filled in the form, I enclosed my CV, which I might add includes more than 25 years in my last employment before taking early retirement.

Since finishing work I have taken a course in computing skills with Bolton Community Education, where I passed at the highest level courses in word processing and spreadsheets.

I then went on to complete and pass an access course at Bolton Community College in Media Studies, English and Creative Writing.

I am now in my Third year at Bolton Institute where I am taking a degree in English Literature.

The point that I am attempting to make is that there must be some form of ageism being practised in and around the Bolton/Manchester area because of the apathy I received when applying for work.

So I would suggest that Hannah Stephenson goes back and does some thorough research before she writes articles like this, because it is giving older people the wrong impression.

John P Gill

Colchester Avenue

Breightmet