IN this day and age there is, sometimes justifiably, a lot of criticism of the care of the elderly. However, I would like to offer huge thanks to the staff of Hunters Down residential home in Huntingdon. My mother, Enid Watson, has lived there for almost

IN this day and age there is, sometimes justifiably, a lot of criticism of the care of the elderly. However, I would like to offer huge thanks to the staff of Hunters Down residential home in Huntingdon.

My mother, Enid Watson, has lived there for almost four years and I have been fortunate in the knowledge that she has been cared for with respect, understanding, dedication and affection. The staff have shown a wonderful example of what caring for the elderly can mean.

Having to arrange for Enid, now 95-years-old, to move from there in view of Excelcare's decision to close the home to re-build, was an anxious time for all concerned, but throughout the process, Sylvia Slight and her team were supportive, reassuring and professional, despite the uncertainty of their own future jobs.

My mother and I are indebted to them all and wish them well for the future. I just hope Excelcare appreciates the calibre of staff it has at Hunters Down.

My thanks also go to Val and the teams in social services for making the relocation of Enid and other residents as straightforward as it was.

ANNE GODDARD, New Road, Offord Cluny

* IT is quite clear to me that selling retirement care homes to private enterprise just does not work. The Government must face up to its responsibilities, take over the homes again, build new homes and set a national budget to fund them.

At the latter part of life, we are very vulnerable and, unless we have accrued large assets for private care, for many people this is not an option. It is therefore time to look back to the future and think again on the whole aspect of care for the elderly.

MICHAEL J LUCKMAN, Middle Street, Great Gransden