Dear Sharon

After 14 happy years in Darlington, 11 of them at the Memorial Hospital, I am moving on and would like to thank two groups who do excellent work in the town. Firstly, the town councillors. All those I have dealt with have been highly committed, hard working people, intent on serving the local community. Secondly, I have had working contracts with many youth workers and with the Community Education Service over recent years. Their work among young people in youth clubs, outreach work on the streets and on the Blitz Youth resource bus is too little known and recognised. Darlington has a Youth Service to be proud of. Maybe the Bouquet of the Week could go to the Blitz Resource Bus?

Ann Hine SRN SCM RCNT BA, Darlington

l The Blitz Bus is a mobile youth centre that travels to different neighbourhoods in the town. It's staffed by professionals and community workers who can provide help and advice on health, welfare, careers, housing and more. A lot of hard work goes into keeping the show on the road so after Ann Hine's glowing testimonial, we're sending them this week's box of chocs.

A simple phone call saved a lot of worry for Mrs Nora Moore of Leeholme, thanks to her GP, Dr Hetherington of Coundon Health Centre. "I'd been for a brain scan and was told I would get the result in a week or ten days. I would have spent every day and night worrying, but Dr Hetherington took the trouble to ring up and to tell me the next morning that everything was okay. That was so thoughtful, it has saved a lot of worry."

FULL marks to The Carlbury Arms at Piercebridge who proved to be a real port in a storm for Mr and Mrs Kidd of Newton Aycliffe. "In torrential rain and fog, our car broke down opposite the pub. As my husband is a senior citizen I was worried about him pushing the car off the road and into the car park, but the landlord and a customer came over and did that for us. Even though the pub was busy, the landlord allowed us liberal use of the bar phone. He then organised a local garage to collect the car and offered to take us home."

Sounds like the ideal combination - kindness and concern backed up by practical help. Well done to the Carlbury Arms, its landlord and customers.

THE water hasn't gone down yet, but already the flood stories are pouring in. Jean Dawson's daughter Sarah was stuck in Northallerton, trying to drive her small car back to Stokesley. "She has only been driving for six months and was terrified. Fortunately, a very kind man called David, offered to help. He actually drove her car for her through the floods until the roads seemed passable and she just managed to get home. It was a nightmare journey for her, but it would have been so much worse if she'd been stranded in the water."

MR and Mrs Moore of Catterick were stranded when their car got stuck in water. But Peter Collier of Richmond, rescued them and gave them a lift home. "It was dark and we were getting frightened so we were very grateful for his kindness. Also to our neighbour Brian Marshall and his son Matt who went along the next day and got our car started again."

l If you want to say thank you, just write to Bouquet of the Week, Sharon Griffiths, The Northern Echo, Priestgate, Darlington DL1 1NF. Each week the person nominated in our main letter gets a real bouquet of flowers or a box of posh chocs.