My son is a university student who was was excited by the chance to find one of the 50 laptops hidden in Southampton city centre by Carphone Warehouse as part of a publicity stunt (Daily Echo, September 5) The reality appears to have been that these were never hidden at all, but simply given out.

When I challenged Carphone Warehouse about this, they insisted that they had hidden them but had representatives from the shop at these locations also.

When I asked them to name some of their hiding places, they said they did not know where these had been! They told me that the police would not allow them to hide the laptops because they posed a security risk. Apparently they could possibly be mistaken for bombs.

I find it incredible that Carphone Warehouse did not check this out beforehand.

They insisted that they did not instigate the article in the Daily Echo.

I feel that it was very badly organised and many people were seriously misled and disappointed, including my son.

What concerns me more is that the Daily Echo was given misleading information.

Carphone Warehouse should have immediately announced the change of plan (i.e. no hunt) if, indeed, that is what it was.

MRS JACKIE BROOKS, Dibden Purlieu.