FESTIVE COSTS: I WAS very disappointed, if not surprised, after reading the letter from Councillor Fraser Reynolds (HAS, Page 4, Dec 19).

The Leader of Durham City Council was replying to a letter from Mrs LA Catterson (HAS, Page 11, Dec 9), who asked for clarification on two matters of council expenditure.

Mrs Catterson asked if it was true that the council had spent £20,000 to pay two soap opera actors to switch on the Christmas lights.

In his rather terse reply, Coun Reynolds stated that the amount spent was less than £20,000.

I would like to remind Coun Reynolds that as a taxpayer Mrs Catterson has every right to ask questions about council spending and, furthermore, the council is on record as saying it wants to be open and accountable.

Unfortunately, it seems when they are asked to be so, they do not like it.

As regards Mrs Catterson's other question, Coun Reynolds admitted that the LibDems would not be contributing towards the increased cost of staging pantomimes in our village halls - a paltry £25.

The city council must, of course, prioritise where our money is to be spent. Regretfully, it seems that the children of Durham are a pretty low priority. - Councillor Paul Taylor, Labour, Brandon Ward, Durham City Council.