I WOULD like to express my disappointment in the front-page headline used in the October 21 edition of the Helston Packet.

Firstly, I am a family friend of the Savvas' and knew Daniel Dodd all his living years. Secondly, I attended the inquest into Daniel's death.

Whilst I appreciate shock headlines may assist in the selling of newspapers, the wording used on this occasion was insensitive to the family and friends of both Daniel Dodd and Harriet Warfield. Packet Newspapers are local community papers, not national newspapers, whereby there is competition for sales. The local community buy as a matter of habit and tradition, as opposed to buying on the grounds of local gossip.

Little did Paul Armstrong mention that, at the inquest, the coroner read statements from the post-mortem verifying that there had been no solvent/drug/alcohol abuse from this youth. Failure to mention that, again prior to the week leading to Daniel's death, his doctor had produced a statement again verifying that Daniel was on no medication and had no history of such.

The article printed may very well have stated some of the facts about the week prior to Daniel's death. However, I feel the "happy go lucky" description of Daniel was somewhat brief.

Persons residing in Cornwall, who did not know Daniel, would understandably perceive Daniel as a "troubled teenager" purely from the wording of this article. I am sure I speak on behalf of all those who knew Daniel, Packet Newspapers have not portrayed Daniel's character to be the true youth he was.

Mr and Mrs Savvas have had, I am sure you will appreciate, the worst five months of their lives. Harriet Warfield, a young 18-year-old girl, has experienced this loss at an age whereby most would not in a lifetime. I consider the headline used to be unethical and upsetting for both families.

I sincerely hope Packet Newspapers will consider printing an apology to the families. I am sure a more appropriate headline could have been used on this occasion.

Daniel's tragic death was a great loss to all who knew him. The article may not have in words claimed Daniel was an unstable youth, but he has been portrayed in this way, to which Packet Newspapers should retract.

Lorna Laity, Tregonning View, Porthleven