SIR — I must reply to Peter Phillips' letter (October 17) about adult weekends in Minehead. He seems to think that they all spend their time in the pubs and are not using cafés for coffee and cakes. Well, how wrong can he be? I have been in local cafés for coffee and cakes and they say they have been rushed off their feet because of the adult weekends. Also, the shops are very busy. You will see people walking back to Butlin's with shopping bags. Mr Phillips says that Butlin's should stick to family holidays only. They probably would have done if it wasn't for the laws this Government has brought in where you can't take children out of school in term time or you risk being fined. So, Butlin's needs adult weekends to keep their camps open and keep people employed. I know for a fact that local people stay employed during the winter months because of adult weekends. Mr Phillips says West Somerset has the highest population for over 65s and Minehead is a retirement town. Who says so? Who has given this title? I was born and bred here and, although I am 69 and a great-grandmother, I can assure you Minehead is far from a retirement town. It annoys me when people don't mind all the hustle and bustle when they're running their lives and earning their living, and then they retire to Minehead and try and run the place. There are a lot of young people in Minehead who deserve a life and employment - we brought up six children here. Let's live and let live - and try to work together. Carol Richards, Bremis Road, Dunster.