WHEN young people come on work experience in my office they are always astonished by the varied postbag I receive.

The number of communications has increased enormously since e-mail was introduced and the days when MPs could sit in the House of Commons library and hand write responses to their weekly postbag have long gone.

So what is in my postbag this week, and what's on people's minds? Well, lots of people in Fairfield who have returned a survey I sent out are clearly concerned about increased traffic, litter and dog fouling.

These aren't trivial issues. If you step out of your door each morning into a mess it does have an impact on how you feel and how you view your neighbourhood.

What's more, we all know that if any area is left untended, it can go down hill very quickly.

So I'm writing to the council about the issues people have raised with me and I hope we'll see some action soon.

People are also contacting me about their difficulties in getting an appointment with a GP which seems to have got much worse recently and more and more letters are coming in protesting about plans to close Culcheth High's sixth form.

Others are trying to influence national policy and this week I received a number of e-mails from people who want a bill to ban wild animals in circuses included in the Queen's Speech.

I agree with them but, sadly, the opposition doesn't get any input into the Queen's speech as it is drafted by the government.

Apart from that, I get lots of meeting requests from people who want to discuss the things I deal with as a Shadow Minister, or who would like me to visit a project they're involved in.

To everyone who writes or e-mails can I make one request. Please, please give me your address. MPs act on behalf of their own constituents, so I need to know that you live in Warrington North and an e-mail address isn't enough. Nowﾅback to signing my post!