SIR: I am writing regarding the article 'Dumped mail mountain riddle' you featured in the February 13 edition of the Bolton Evening News.

For more than 10 years I have been writing to penpals worldwide. There have always been odd letters going astray. For the past 12 months or so, these straying letters have been getting out of hand. I have already lost a few penpals because of this. I don't want to lose any more.

I have written a letter of complaint to the main sorting office, when I had to fill in a compensation form, after receiving only an envelope front. Luckily, I recognised the writing and sticker, so I knew who it was from. Up to now she still hasn't been reimbursed. They said the letter must have got damaged in transit.

I have felt disheartened by the mail of late, but I was disgusted and dismayed that someone had posted so many letters to other addresses into an empty house. It certainly makes me wonder where my missing letters have ended up.

How safe is our mail? We hear and read about mailbag snatches, post boxes set alight, and now this. Where will it all end?

Karen McLeod,

Ramsay Avenue,

Farnworth.

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