THEY used to say that when times were hard the only shops that flourished were charity shops.

I don't know if that's true or not, but the Salvation Army has just opened a charity shop on Hoylake Road, Moreton.

That now makes nine charity shops ranging from Moreton Cross up to Joan Avenue, a distance of about half-a-mile.

That's not accounting for several businesses that have gone broke and the shops left empty.

Does this not show that austerity cuts by Wirral Council and the Tory Government do not work?

Mike Kelly, Moreton.