I CANNOT fail to be deeply affected by the dreadful and avoidable tragedy that has happened in our beautiful bay.

I felt sure that such events could not fail to touch the hearts of all the people of our district. Clearly many do feel the same way.

I was pleased to hear of the respectfully observed minute's silence observed at Morecambe football club, in respect for the men and women that lost their lives. I have, however, been deeply saddened by some of the comments overheard while travelling around the district in the last few days.

I have heard taxi drivers, passengers on buses and people in shop queues implying that the 19 who were lost are not worthy of our concern because they were foreigners, perhaps here illegally.

I have even heard people loudly and publicly making jokes about this terrible loss of life.

Although I realise that such views represent a tiny minority of the people of this district, it still makes me ashamed when I hear such views.

To those who express such views I would simply ask that they take moment to remember that whatever the rights and wrongs of why these people where here, they were all still fellow human beings - mothers, fathers, sons, daughters. Their loss will leave tragic holes in the lives of many people who knew and loved them.

And I pray that those who express such abhorrent views are never touched in their own lives by such family tragedy.

I will end by adding my hope that this dreadful tragedy will at least lead to action to prevent such a thing happening again. This exploitative trade must be properly regulated and controlled - this is the year 2004 yet these people were working in positively medieval conditions.

I would also add my voice to those calling for some kind of permanent memo-rial to those 19 poor souls, which will clearly demonstrate that the people of this district do care and that the abhorrent views outlined above are indeed those of a minority.

Donald Read, Lancaster (address supplied).