I READ the story about retailers in Knowsley having the chance to win fully refurbished rent-free premises in Prescot for an entire year (Star, September 11).

I have to say this is fantastic, not just for Prescot Shopping Centre where a shop is being brought back into use, but because it creates a great story for them.

In St Helens we have empty shops, a chamber of commerce and social enterprises. Why can't we be doing the same thing?

Perhaps the will to do so is not present, perhaps our organisations do not have the same appetite for creating news?

Mike Ashworth, via sthelensstar.co.uk