WE really need only to reiterate Christopher Lyon's letter ("Plumb out of luck", July 11).

We have two sons. The elder son is 20 and tried for more than a year to find an apprenticeship. After many frustrating months and dozens of letters he eventually found a job.

Our second son who has just left school has tried for months to find an apprenticeship in York.

He has written around 30 letters to companies. One owner of a company replied to say he now refused to take on an apprentice because no sooner had they finished the apprenticeship they would leave to start on their own, becoming competition for him. This was his reason to refuse taking any others on.

Speaking to another building company only last week, our son - who wanted to become a bricklayer - was told more than 60 had applied for five positions.

Is there any one going to give our son a chance on the ladder as a bricklayer?

Mr D and Mrs C Wardell,

Malton Road, York.

Updated: 09:37 Thursday, July 14, 2005