SIR: Fairly recently, a friend of mine visited a Bolton pub and surprised me by stating that he saw a camera over the door for all and sundry to see.

As I see it, this was not a 'candid camera'. It was aimed at the customers coming in and not at the car park. To me, this smacks of the publicans not trusting their customers, including their locals.

This friend casually mentioned the camera to the publicans who not only rebuked him, he got banned. I also found them two faced, impersonal and, to not put too fine a point on it, downright rude. What annoys me is that the said pub is on the list of the Bolton 'pubs of distinction'.

This, of course, is a matter of opinion, as this tag should be taken with a pinch of salt.

Certain publicans just like to revel in their trumped-up publicity and appear smug on their photographs.

In any case, why should they take all the credit from their bar staff and chefs, as, without them, they would rightfully be 'out on their ears'.

B Howard,

Alexandria Drive,

Westhoughton.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.