I AM appalled at the way both students and tutors have been treated by the Community Education Department at St Helens and staggered by its attitude.

In mid-July we stood in a long, hot queue to enrol for our various courses. This is par for the course as the 'system' is always shambolic, but fees were then duly paid, after joining a second queue.

As I had forgotten the date of the start of term I rang my tutor to find out on Tuesday, September 7. I was stunned when she told me that the whole of our painting course to be held in Billinge, is cancelled and she has lost most of her classes.

Apparently the reason for this is lack of funding. Why has the college taken all summer to realize it hasn't enough money?

Why did we have to queue to enrol and pay for non-existent courses?

These are very important and not just used for leisure purposes but also in some cases as a means to improve skills as a basis for further study.

Zilch!

My tutor assured me that I would receive official notification from the college by phone or letter. It is now September 9 with only two working days left to the start of term and from the college I have heard - zilch. No call, no letter. I have only found out by accident that there is no course. Meanwhile the college has had my enrolment fee for almost two months.

What a way to run such a large and important concern, and what a cavalier and arrogant way to deal with its 'consumers'. It has left me very angry.

Mrs Keen, Rainford, (address supplied).