MADAM, Among all the welter of news recently, the 'saving of the cheque' news, and how it has been achieved, hasn't been widely mentioned. My bank, First Direct, joined the campaign due to so many customers expressing their dismay at the proposed abolition.

Could the Gazette help to spread the good news?

Ann Parker, Ross

On July 12th The Payments Council reversed its controversial plans to abolish cheques by 2018. The banking industry body caved into pressure from charities and MPs who argued scrapping the cheque system would adversely affect small businesses and vulnerable consumers. The Payments Council admitted it was forced into a U-turn by the sheer weight of public opinion objecting to the proposals and said consumers would be able to continue to use cheques for as long as they need.