HUNTING: SURELY any doubts people had regarding those who protest against the proposed ban on foxhunting have now disappeared after their criminal behaviour on Wednesday when they burst into the Houses of Parliament.

These people, who are mainly upper class, have shown their total disregard for democracy by showing that they are just not willing to use their undemocratic pals in the House of Lords to beat this legislation, but they are prepared to take the law into their own hands and violently stop the debate in the democratically-elected House of Commons.

They are trying to live in the Victorian era by legitimising one of the most cruel practices known to man, and they are determined to suppress the working class who have elected the members of the House of Commons, by violently stopping members of that House carrying out their business.

No decent law-abiding person in their right mind can have one shred of support for these arrogant, self-opinionated people. - Norman Smith, Newton Aycliffe.

AS we recall the recent activities of the Countryside Alliance, remember that these are the same people who are demanding that the laws banning guns be repealed. - CT Riley, Spennymoor.

REGIONAL ASSEMBLY

I CAN confirm that Ray Mallon has made no attempt over the past year to contact the 'No' campaign to hear the contrary arguments and concerns with regard to a regional assembly.

It appears he is prepared to listen to arguments from Sir John Hall and John Tomaney from Yes4theNorthEast without a balance.

He was also made fully aware of the unelected assembly's misuse of public money. He chose not to contact us.

If Ray Mallon considers himself a 'man of the people' then he has a duty to listen to the doubters' concerns too.

Perhaps he has realised that the way forward in politics is with the region's political elite.

I understand that he is supporting the Labour candidate in Hartlepool.

There will not be an assembly dominated by true 'Independents'. This is a political project, by a political party for political reasons... and remember, it is the hard working taxpayer who will carry the cost of this unwanted political folly.

Do you wonder why everyone is still desperate for information and facts and there are none forthcoming? - Neil Herron, Campaign Director, North-East No Campaign.

SO 20 per cent of the 'No' campaigners are supporters of the Tory Party. What a surprise!

I wonder what shattering percentage of the 'Yes' campaigners are members of the Labour Party? - David M Bishop, Guisborough.

SO Ray Mallon supports a regional assembly and would be a willing member.

Wonder if this has anything to do with his aspirations to become an MP? I'm sure he sees this as a route to Westminster.

As regards cost, you are all fooling yourselves if you think it won't add to your council tax bills.

Look at the Scottish Parliament. Estimated cost £45m - actual cost - £450m.

Only the Government could get away with it. You've been warned. - Mel Auton, Ingleby Barwick.

'NO' campaign's publicity man Graham Robb has coined what he thinks is a clever catchphrase by referring to the 'Yes' campaign as the "New Establishment" He uses it on every occasion he can.

He had better be careful. It could backfire.

As has been frequently pointed out, North-East Says No is run by retired Conservatives. They were the establishment in the North-East when the Conservatives were in power.

During that period our industries were run down and public services starved of funds. The electorate responded by kicking out Conservative councillors and MPs in the region wholesale. These are the people who now think they can solve our problems when they conspicuously failed before.

The campaign for a regional assembly gained momentum during this period so that the North-East would never get the same treatment again.

So Graham might ponder that if people are given a choice between the "New" and the "Old" establishments which one they would prefer. I don't think it will be much of a contest. - David Taylor-Gooby, Peterlee.

IT is excellent news that Ray Mallon is backing Yes4theNorthEast. It shows that when people are faced with the reality of making decisions in all parts of the North-East, they find out just how limited the power of regional policy makers really is.

Bringing about meaningful change requires the legitimate power that democratic regional government brings.

This is a once in a lifetime opportunity that the region must seize. Yes4theNorthEast is building a rainbow coalition of support across the region, the result of many years of campaigning by those close to the grassroots, active in their local communities.

Those in the 'No' campaign who seek to reject this opportunity have to explain how the same old rule from London is going to enable the North-East to make policy and put it into action. - Philip Latham, Riding Mill.

LOCAL GOVERNMENT

JIM Tague (HAS, Sept 9) seems to be struggling to follow an unfolding event. It is my pleasure to come to his aid.

Work undertaken by Durham County Council showed that if we had one council providing all of our local government services - called County Durham Council - it would save £21m compared to the costs of breaking up our great county to create three smaller, weaker councils.

As the producers of these figures, we thought it was important to be conservative. Since then independent work has been undertaken which shows that one council providing all our local government services would save almost £25m per year compared to three councils.

Mr Tague may also be interested to know that the independent work showed that three councils would cost more than the current two-tier local government structure.

I trust this helps him understand the issue a little better and convinces him that, regardless of his views on a regional assembly, there is really only one choice for local government reorganisation in County Durham and that is Option A, a County Durham Council. - County Councillor Bill Blenkinsopp, Durham County Council.