This week the Gazette has received a flood of forms published in last week's paper calling on Prime Minister Tony Blair to increase the grant paid to Wiltshire.

Many more forms will have gone directly to 10 Downing Street.

We are printing the form again this week and urge all of our readers to take the time to cut it out, fill it in and send it off.

It is vitally important the Government is made to realise that when it comes to setting the Standard Spending Assessment for Wiltshire over the next week it must take into account the county's problems.

For some reason Wiltshire is perceived as a rich county full of contented, well-off citizens.

The truth is starkly different and among our growing elderly population, on our crumbling roads and in our decaying schools there is a real need for extra money not for luxuries but to deliver the basic needs of each service.

This week we have examined the crisis in Social Service and the scandal of almost 100 old and vulnerable people trapped in hospital beds because the county cannot afford to look after them in nursing homes.

This must end immediately but without extra money the council has no way of solving the problem.

It is up to all of us to make a stand and demand a Fair Share for Wiltshire. There is no point in expecting someone to fight our corner. This time it is up to us.