Leah keeps help coming

The terrible tragedy of Kosovo grabbed the world's attention a year ago when Allied forces went in to help beleaguered refugees.

Now, nine months later, it is easy to forget the harrowing images that were on every TV screen and front page.

One woman who did not forget is Leah Douglas Mercedes, who runs a shop in Rye.

She has already made two trips to the Balkans and is planning a third mercy mission during the summer.

It would be easy for Leah to live a comfortable life in a delightful corner of Sussex and care nothing for the refugees.

But compassion is driving her back to Kosovo to see how the refugees who've returned are trying to rebuild their lives.

Not everyone could or would take direct humanitarian action like Leah. But the least we can do is to support missions like hers which aid people who would otherwise be cast aside.

Gone too far

The Benefits Agency is right to root out shirkers who don't work even though they are perfectly fit and well.

But it has gone to the other extreme in pursuing John Watson, from Hollingdean in Brighton, who has been on incapacity benefit.

Mr Watson, a postman, stopped work after two severe heart attacks. He also has an ear complaint affecting his balance, kidney stones and severe arthritis.

Astonishingly he's been told by the agency that he's fit for work and his benefit is to be stopped.

Should it force a sick man to do work which might kill him? We doubt it and Mr Watson is right to appeal.

Gotta lotta bottle

Linda Viccars from Burgess Hill is in line to be the first woman chosen as Milkman of the Year.

And she really doesn't mind if the organisers don't bother to change the title of a contest that will seem sexist if she wins.

Linda really cares about her customers and they in turn say she's the cream of the profession.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.