CHRISTMAS: I WAS very upset to read that Darran Weston feels that Christmas lights (HAS, Dec 3) are a distraction.

Surely, as a potential driving instructor, he should be teaching his pupils how to cope with distractions while driving: children who may run into the road, animals, vehicles pulling out or stopping suddenly. Perhaps he is not the best person to teach people how to cope with distractions while driving if he cannot cope with houses that have Christmas lights up for maybe a month or so.

Does he also find illuminated signs, bus stops and street signs distracting and want these banned also?

As an owner of one of these distractions, I can add that they bring a lot of pleasure to a great many people, young and old, and also help to raise money for charity. Surely by denying this, particularly at this time of year, then Mr Weston is being a killjoy.

May I also remind him that did not the Three Wise Men in the Christmas story follow a bright light to Jesus? Were the Shepherds not awakened by angels' voices and a bright light? The poor souls would not have bothered with this distraction but should have got on with the job in hand should Mr Weston have his way. - Ellen Carlin, Carrville.

AS believing Christians celebrate the birth of Christ, they can expect to see the usual doubters who would love him taken out of the season and the spotlight wherever they can.

The Bible foretells this and history has shown it unfold, from the announcement of his birth and the Wise Men coming to see him, to Herod slaughtering all the children under two years in an attempt to eliminate him.

Jesus was called the Light of the World. The prince of darkness has used his followers to persecute the bringer of the light, the Jews and the proclaimer of the light, the Christians.

The battle is hotting up and will finish in the Middle East where it all started.

John the apostle, who was the closest to Jesus, said he who says he is in the light and hates his brother is still in darkness.

The same prophet in the last book of the Bible tells us who the winners are. - W Mawston, Rushyford.

WITH the festive period upon us it is time for all drivers to take the drink driving message seriously.

That is what I did last Saturday night as I went out into Darlington town centre with a group of friends who were drinking.

I was driving and kept to soft drinks all night and was amazed to find that my soft drink was in fact costing more than the alcoholic ones.

Pubs should be made to sell the soft drinks at a cheaper price. The most amazing price paid was £3.25 for a 500ml bottle of water. I nearly handed my eyeballs over the counter as down-payment. - Scott Thornberry, Darlington.

IF people would rather have steak and chips instead of turkey on Christmas Day (Echo, Dec 14) then why don't they?

We should not be slaves of tradition. There is no law that dictates what must be eaten or done at Christmas. Most of the festivities are pure tradition. Good traditions well upheld can be fine, but not ones that have little or no meaning.

It is amazing how many people feel obliged to behave in a certain way, do certain things, eat particular foods at this time of year. Even more strange when you consider the majority of those people will never give a passing thought to the reason for the season, that is the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ. Oh yes, we know Jesus's real date of birth is unknown, but if December 25 is supposed to represent that birthdate, then surely Jesus should be the focus of those celebrations. Concerns about what to eat, drink, give, receive etc should play a minor role. - EA Moralee, Billingham.

ENVIRONMENT

I HAVE the very greatest respect for David Bellamy's views on many things, but on this occasion (Echo, Dec 20), I think it is David talking a lot of hot air.

The main criteria as I see it is the rise in the levels of the greenhouse gas CO2.

Before 1958, the concentrations in the atmosphere were measured from ice core samples taken from the Antarctic, after 1958 from Mauna Loa in Hawaii. Results show levels have risen from 280 parts per million in 1880 to 367 parts per million at the present time.

Last year was the first year ever that the level of CO2 has risen by two parts per million for two years running.

If that does not worry him, it sure worries me. Where else can all this CO2 have come from other than by man's activity? - Peter Hill, Hurworth Place.

ID CARDS

PLEASE can someone explain how identity cards will deter terrorists or illegal immigrants from entering the country?

The whole world and his wife know quite well that our borders are as secure as the proverbial sieve. The 'paymasters' have first hand knowledge of the 'black market' in cheap, uncontrolled employment, and consequently use this information to exploit the illegals and circumvent the law.

The cockle pickers, seasonal fruit pickers and many others in menial jobs from poorer countries don't pay taxes, and can live in crowded, cheap substandard accommodation, enabling them send money home and ensuring their families a better life back in their own country.

Terrorists infiltrate our borders using the same unguarded corridors, knowing ID cards do not have to be carried, and are able to walk the streets with impunity.

In the unlikey event of being challenged, they will be given notice to produce the necessary card at a police station within a given time, thus allowing them ample opportunity to lose themselves amongst the 56 million honest souls of the nation.

Then they'll find a suitable human rights lawyer to string the litigation system to the nth degree over many years and gain them the right to live here, and the lawyer pockets a vast sum of taxpayers' money.

That's if we are not all blown up first. Remember Madrid. They have ID cards in Spain. - C Matthews, Newton Aycliffe.