'OLD and skint - who really cares?' you asked on May 24. Who indeed?

Topically, Stephen Lewis puts his sensitive finger firmly on a pensioner's financial problems.

He would have had little difficulty in finding Vera Ingle among the retired people in York.

So he felt ashamed during his interview. An honest admission. Perhaps the director of social services and full council will also feel equally ashamed at Vera's income/expenditure shopping list and hiked up council care charges.

She is justified in being very cross with the council. Her begging bowl may be empty each week, but 'a bit more money would be useful'.

In York, to alleviate Vera's over-80s lifestyle and many others, cinemas, theatres, transport operators, supermarkets, restaurants, libraries, lunch clubs, could all offer free facilities one day a month (minimum).

The Lord Mayor could entertain skint pensioners once a month (not just at Christmas) at a free coffee morning in the city's refurbished Mansion House. Some York pensioners have never been in there in their lives. Open it up - really care.

Tony Blair said recently in a report 'Building a Better Britain for Older Britain': "Older people... receive too little attention, their contribution is undervalued, their voices ignored. I recognise this failure and am determined to put it right."

I hope he will!

David Hughes,

Elm Park Way,

York.