I HAVE been reading with great interest the items on Shop Locally.

Having lived in the Bassett/Swaythling area for 79 years, I have watched a much used community of local shops lost, many in Burgess Road which are now run as fast food shops catering for university students. As I have no car, I shop in Swaythling High Road and Burgess Road as much as I can.

Morfair's is a great business and the owners Yagnesh and Jigna and staff are really helpful. I may pay a little bit more for some items, but they also have good offers as well. The local post office is where I still get my retirement pension from Stuart and Ginny and I am very pleased that like many others I can still do this.

A lot of the local community use the hairdressers in Swaythling for the friendly atmosphere and reasonable prices.

As a volunteer responsible for purchasing the prizes for the weekly bingo sessions at the Swaythling Neighbourhood Centre we use local shops. The prizes are too heavy to carry back on the bus, so Yagnesh from Morfairs delivers them to the door, without this service we might struggle to run bingo. They also, plus several other business, generously provide us with prizes for the Christmas and Summer fetes.

Hopefully you will print this letter to let local businesses know that we of the Swaythling/Bassett area do appreciate the services they provide.

MRS J OSMAN, Southampton.