I WAS disgusted to read comments by one letter writer a fortnight ago about the benches. My mother is 93, lives alone and has difficulty walking. She purchased a sit on walker to access the retail parks, where there is also nowhere to sit.

As walking became more difficult, the Hardshaw Centre was the perfect solution to maintain her mobility whilst enabling us both to access a variety of shops; resting as needed and enjoying the company of others.

I have lived in St Helens all my life and am sad to see the demise of the town centre but we will now need to go elsewhere for our shopping. It is decisions like the removal of the benches and the attitude of people like the letter writer which make me ashamed of where I come from.

Janet Hopkins, Billinge