I USED to be fiercely opposed to out-of-town shopping centres until October last year, when my daughter said that she would like some shoes for her birthday.

We decided to go to town for the late-night shopping as, due to other commitments, this was the only time we could all go together. We also decided we would get something to eat while we were in town.

We arrived at about 7.30pm, not realising that the late-night shopping was only until 8pm.

However, we decided to carry on as it was unlikely to take my daughter long to choose a pair of shoes.

We proceeded to the Market Place and looked in one shop and then proceeded to another. By this time it was 7.45pm.

Outside the door of the shop was one of the assistants, who refused to let us enter on the grounds that it was "closing in a minute".

When my husband stated that the shop was due to close in 15 minutes, she turned her head away and refused to answer.

This was the action which changed my mind about out-of-town shopping centres.

My daughter suggested that we went to the Trafford Centre, which closed at 9pm. Despite this and our subsequent arrival in the first shop at 8.35pm (where she bought a pair of shoes in five minutes), we were treated by eager, pleasant staff and the whole experience was wonderful. We were also able to eat at leisure afterwards.

If people enjoy their shopping experience, then car parking charges will not worry them too much. If shoppers are treated as a hindrance, it will.

Mrs Pauline Smith

Heaton Road

Lostock, Bolton