MY husband and I were looking for a light lunch in Beaminster. It was a bit late and we had no success as we were told they had stopped serving food or were closed.

The tunnel’s closed? Good.

Fewer lorries thundering through.

And the town is blessed with a hardware shop, which is a rarity these days, an excellent butcher, a fine greengrocer, and a friendly Co-op.

So locals still come. But to attract the people who spend money in the other shops around; the holidaying families, the retired couples, the ladies who lunch, you must have cheerful pretty, open eating places.

So come on Beaminster townspeople!

I’ve had a shop. I know what it is like when times are tough.

But let’s see more marketing and less moaning with road signs saying ‘Welcome!’ The one on the A356 is good, not the depressing ‘business as usual’, the cafes taking it in turns to open all day and smiling Beaminster faces in the Bridport News, not glum ones.

HAZEL MCDERMOTT Ballards Farm Road Croydon Surrey