A MALVERN charity worker has uncovered the truth behind a chain letter currently circulating in the area.

The bogus appeal on behalf of a child with terminal cancer has fooled hundreds of reputable organisations into sending compliments slips to an address in Carshalton, Surrey.

The letter, to be forwarded to 10 other organisations, claims that seven-year-old John Craig is aiming to get into the Guinness Book of Records for having the largest collection of compliments slips.

But Carshalton Post Office is having to intercept sackloads of replies in order to protect the family of the real John, who is now aged 21, having recovered from cancer.

Nicola Sutton, administrator of ARCOS, the Association for Rehabilita-tion of Communication and Oral Skills, remembered seeing a similar letter two years ago and decided to check it out.

The Electoral Roll department of Surrey County Council told her the Craig family no longer lived at the address given in the letter.

"John Craig was indeed diagnosed with an inoperable tumour in 1988. However, he had a successful operation in the United States and has made a complete recovery," she said.

"Originally, in 1988, John was collecting Get Well cards to be entered into the Guinness Book of Records.

"I was told that requests to end this chain have appeared in newspapers in Surrey and its surrounds," she said.

The chain letter had been sent to ARCOS by Jacqui Bazley of Barnardo's, based in Pershore, who has now issued an internal warning through Barnardo's and promised to contact other organisations on her list.