SIR: Spring is here at last and with it the busiest time of the year in the garden.

But for the 4.5m people in the UK, who are severely disabled by arthritis, or some other form of rheumatic disease, stiff and painful joints make picking up gardening tools, or even bending down to do the weeding, something of an ordeal.

There are various ways for gardeners afflicted by arthritis to overcome such problems, and to protect their joints against unnecessary strain.

Leading medical research charity, the Arthritis Research Campaign, has produced a booklet aimed at offering practical advice and suggestions to green-fingered arthritis sufferers.

Written by an expert, and with a foreword by TV gardener Alan Titchmarsh, Gardening with Arthritis offers general guidelines, suggesting changing tasks frequently to exercise different sets of muscles - plus plenty of rest in between - and tips on how to avoid potential problem areas. It also gives details of the special, long-handled gardening tools which are available.

Anyone who would like a copy of the free booklet should write to the address below, enclosing a 9in x 6in SAE.

Janice Smith

ARC, PO Box 177

Chesterfield

Derbyshire. S41 7TQ?

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