I AM shocked and dismayed at the behaviour of a small number of individuals in Sainsbury's in Northwich during the two minutes' silence which was held to mark the anniversary of the London July 7 bombings outrage.

The store clearly announced the start of the silence, which the majority of shoppers observed.

However a small minority didn't have the common decency to take two minutes out of their busy and important lives to remember not only those who were killed, maimed and traumatised by the horrific events but to spare a thought for their families and also the brave emergency services personnel who had to deal with the carnage.

Unbelievably, some till scanners were audible during the two minutes' silence.

I am an 'ex-pat' Londoner who married a Northwich man and I have lived in Northwich for the past 11 years. I clearly remember the morning of July 7, trying frantically for hours to contact my brother and my brother-in-law (from Northwich and now living in London) as both of them travelled to work by tube, and also trying to contact friends and former work colleagues who worked in central London.

I remember feeling physically sick with fear for my loved ones and feeling a huge anger towards those who had perpetrated the atrocity in my home city.

I did not expect to be standing in Northwich one year on feeling angry towards those who callously continued chatting loudly while they wandered around the store despite the clear public address announcement and the obvious silence and stillness of the decent majority of Northwich people.

To those decent people who showed respect and solidarity and observed the silence, thank you.

To those individuals who didn't have the decency to do so, shame on you.

JAN HARGROVE-BAILEY

Rudheath