Letter: A useful present

Sir: This is to sons, daughters and grandchildren who bought their mothers their own choice of Christmas present: brooches, earrings, jumpers, cardigans ... the list is endless. Have you thought that your parents would prefer a gift voucher or, even better, cash?

In six telephone calls to friends aged 60- and 70-plus, we all moaned that we wished our families would give us cash. We are grateful that we have families, and for their gifts, but with the cash we could pay for the telephone, water, electricity and gas, or we could buy our own choice of clothes.

Mrs MAUREEN BROPHY

Manchester