THE response of the community in Haydon Wick to the closure of the Post Office in Safeway raises deeper issues of ethical consumerism.

Many people clearly feel that Safeway has a responsibility of care to its customers rather than simply to its shareholders, I would be in agreement.

Safeway raised a large amount of money for four-year-old cancer sufferer Charlie Jarvis, suggesting it does have a sense of its place in the community.

I hope the boycott of Safeway is successful in showing rich companies that ultimately we have high ethical expectations of them.

I would go further and argue that in boycotting a company that has turned its back on a community, people should seek out ethical alternatives in all their consumer habits.

Buy environmentally-friendly products.

Buy goods bearing the Fair Trade Mark.

Look for recyclable packaging.

Snub companies known to exploit workers or who use Third World labour in a cynical ploy to cut costs.

Invest in companies who care about people before profit.

The consumer does have the ultimate power in the market place. Let us use that power responsibly and for the good of the global community.

KATHARINE NASH

Thetford Way

Taw Hill

Swindon