SIR - As city councillor for St John's, I am obviously very concerned that Shop Direct is closing, leaving hundreds of my constituents out of work.

I worked at Kays in Bromyard Road (Pierau warehouse) in the 70s and remember the three-day week. Although we only had electric for three days each week, our department, goods inwards, had to work all week to accept deliveries from companies outside Worcester, which had electricity supplies on different days to us.

This meant that we had to work in the dark using torches to see our way around the warehouse. I doubt if health and safety legislation would allow us to do this now!

I celebrated my 21st birthday at Kays and met my future husband, Colin, there. Together with Phil Box, Mick Burton and other colleagues, he started a branch of the Transport And General Workers Union at the Bransford Road site and was senior shop steward for several years. Happy days.

I sincerely hope that the workers will get a decent settlement and wish them luck in finding alternative employment.

Councillor

Margaret Layland,

Worcester.