THE news that Evesham's award from the Market Towns Initiative has been increased from £400k to £1m leaves me wondering if this development is in any way connected with last year's £1m 'shortfall' at Evesham and Pershore Housing Association?

Those of us with an eye for these things know that bureaucrats move in mysterious ways, but surely it's too great a test of our faith to accept that money intended for the improvement of our homes will instead be spent on sprucing up the tourism profits of Evesham's business community.

PAUL RENCHER, Nightingale Court, Evesham.