IN reply to the letter about London and how people live down there, can I correct some points that were made?

Firstly, I would gladly wait in a long queue for a bus in London. You can get an all-day ticket for £3 and that is for 24 hours, not until midnight like in Bolton.

Also, there are many buses and they are so frequent that no-one waits more than five minutes. Here in Bolton, First Manchester is reducing a lot of services from April and, for those who live in Darcy Lever, their service (536/537) is being withdrawn. It is being replaced by a re-routed 95 Bolton to Manchester, an hourly service, if it decides to turn up. Scores on the board: London 1 Bolton 0.

Secondly, how much does the writer pay for a pint of Stella, Carling or Fosters in Bolton, between £2.50 and £3? There are plenty of pubs in London, just off Oxford Street, where a pint of Fosters or Carling costs £2 and a pint of Stella is £2.50. Score: London 2 Bolton 0.

Thirdly, when was the last time this person went to London? The people are more friendly than what he thinks - they are becoming some of the most friendliest and helpful people in Britain. In Bolton, how many times do people walk in front of the writer and budge into him without apologising, or has been given the wrong directions to somewhere?

Even worse, how many people does he see dropping litter in the streets, just metres away from a bin? London gets the upper hand: London 3 Bolton 0.

It is actually safer to walk through the streets of Brixton or other rough areas of London than it is to walk through Johnson Fold, Top o'th' Brow and Little Hulton: London 4 Bolton 0.

What has Bolton to offer that can beat London? Cheaper housing. Can't think of anything else. Score: London 4 Bolton 1.

In all, Bolton has far more vandalism than the capital, worse public transport that is getting even worse, copy-cat shopping centres and a culture and heritage that is disappearing fast.

Are you now proud to be a Boltonion?

Adam Glazier

Thornham Drive

Sharples