SIR I take great exception to a statement on the Business page (T&A, May 3) about a shortage of skills in the Bradford district.

That lack of skills is partly self-inflicted and a large part of the statement was pure twaddle to cover their own shortcomings, as employers tend to pass over people of an older age.

I am 53 and was made redundant last June on the closure of Pennine Fibres at Denholme, having worked there for ten years.

I was never late once, never had a day off ill. My skills include managing safety, fire marshall, word processing, word processing advanced, front page level 1&2, counter balance fork truck licence, and C&G level 2 in literacy.

Yet, despite many applications, I am still sitting here waiting for the employers to even have the decency to reply and say I was not successful.

Lack of skills is not the problem, the employers need to get their eyes tested and check out the CVs they receive in more detail instead of just binning ones over a certain age.

And if they do, at least have the good manners to inform people they have been unsuccessful.

Richard Bailey, Main Road, Denholme