INDEED self-help and local resilience will overcome rural adversity, as your comments (October 12) rightly urges.

Until the 1940's post-war introduction of the government as all-in provider, each district's wants were supplied by local subscribers.

You need a district nurse? You club together to hire one. You want the the litter removed? You see to it. This is coming back now.

Also, the return of local-run provision, each area seeing to its own needs as it thinks fit, not the present reliance on central, local or national government, far away.

We need to cease our expecting that 'someone will see to us' and be self-reliant again. Otherwise, we will wither.

Jeremy Godwin

Penrith