Sir.-I'm sorry to say that, after 20 years of collecting tins of food for the needy elderly at Christmas, the Lions Club has been forced, by issues of health and safety, to abandon this annual activity.

Many thanks for all you have done in the past, and please continue to help us in the future.

The need to do something to show those living in straitened circumstances that they are not forgotten at this time of year still exists. So we will hold several cash collections in the main shopping areas in the run-up to Christmas.

I hope people will feel able to continue to support us in this endeavour. The new approach could be even more successful than the tin collection as it will enable us to more closely target the needs of the individuals.

We still need new members if this and other community projects we help are not to be lost.

Please call us on 01256 421867.

-John Mounty, President, Lions Club.