CAN YOU HELP?: Another May Bank Holiday another Orpington carnival. All I can say is what a joke.

The parade leading up to the opening of the carnival was not worth watching and as for the fete itself - a total of about 25 stalls offering the usual nonsense which we seem to find at such events. I think the problem lies with the way it is organised. Every year the size of the parade seems to get smaller and smaller until one day soon it will disappear from the face of the earth maybe this will be a good thing. Surely a fete should in some way reflect the area for both business and leisure but the impression this event gives is the people are too lazy to club together and put Orpington on the carnival map. We could learn a lot from Knockholt who put on a magnificent carnival every two years.

NAME AND ADDRESS SUPPLIED

TAKING CARE: My father-in-law recently passed away in St Christopher's Hospice and we would just like to thank all the nurses who took care of him. We got to know them very well as he was there for seven weeks. They helped him with the pain and he came home for seven weeks with further care from district nurses. Raising money for St Christopher's is so close to our hearts at the moment. We have been visiting the open gardens and the family took part in the recent fun walk. We had a great day and raised over £1,600. It would be such a loss if it ever had to close. Let's hope it never happens.

L Pomfret, Petts Wood

CAR TROUBLE: While your readers have read of a police officer exceeding 158mph with no punishment and another officer exceeding 90mph in a 30mph zone with no punishment, they may be encouraged to exceed the speed limits themselves. Recently I committed the heinous crime of parking with a disabled badge the wrong way round. I was fined £40 after appealing, as I was informed "I was abusing the badge".

NAME AND ADDRESS SUPPLIED

GOOD SAMARITANS: I would like to thank the good samaritans who helped me after I had an accident in Petersham Drive, St Paul's Cray, on May 19. A special thank you to the gentleman who waited until the ambulance arrived. The outcome was three broken bones and three nights in Queen Mary's. Thank you again.

Ruth Kenward, Chislehurst

CLEAN UP: I always thought nurses nursed and cleaners cleaned. Hospital wards were clean when each ward had a dedicated team of cleaners who took pride in their work.

Paul Gurley, Orpington