HUNTING: THE action of the young man who was arrested during a pro-hunting demonstration outside Tony Blair's house at Trimdon on Friday is understandable.

The Government is proposing to take away his job, home and way of life.

The hunting community is feeling totally let down by the Prime Minister and his Government, with whom we have co-operated throughout the consultation period because we trusted them when they said they would base their findings on "evidence and principle".

But they have gone back on their word, so no longer deserve, or can expect, our respect.

Hunting people are generally peaceable, but there is an enormous amount of anger and frustration felt, not only by those whose livelihood and vocation are at stake, but by the whole hunting community. - Angela Vaux, Barton.

AS the end of hunting with dogs is at last to become a reality the vast majority of our people will be celebrating.

May I remind the hunters and their supporters of something their much admired Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher said when faced with trade union opposition to some legislation: "You cannot choose which laws to obey and which laws not to obey".

I was not a fan of Mrs T but in this case she was right. Pro hunters please note. - Hugh Pender, Darlington.

POLITICAL CORRECTNESS

POLITICAL correctness, especially in its capacity to corrode our self-belief as a nation, has never been more obtrusive than it is today, but in fact it has a long history, going back at least to the 1960s.

Think of the twin-themes of left-wing propaganda in those days: constant denigration of our role in the third world; consistently flattering portrayals of our enemies - the Soviet Union and its hangers-on.

That - not local opposition - was why we pulled out of Africa when we did (100 years prematurely). It was due to a failure of nerve, caused by highly effective psychological attrition.

And that's why Africa's in the mess it is today. Look down the continent, from Sudan to Zimbabwe, and you'll find one sorry tale of grandiose corruption and tyranny.

But do the commentators concerned show any signs of self-doubt? They are as ready as ever to spout their anti-Western, anti-British twaddle.

Such people are so self-opinionated that they are incapable of learning from experience. Add to that their characteristic gift of the gab, and that's why they're so dangerous. - T Kelly, Crook.

REGIONAL GOVERNMENT

THE campaign for a North-East assembly has been campaigning for democracy and justice for the people of the North-East since 1992.

An elected assembly in the North-East would give the region a voice which we have lacked in the past and would be beneficial to all the people who live here, whether born and bred North-Easteners or those who have chosen to make their home here.

Long and, at times, bitter experience has taught us that London-based institutions will always produce London-friendly policies when what is needed are North-East solutions to North-East problems.

The people of the North-East are best placed to understand our needs and make the right decisions to take us forward. London is too remote and decisions taken there have not always been to our advantage.

We must say no to the status quo and change to a more modern and flexible system which reflects the unique identity and needs of our region.

The time has come to stop being subservient to London. There is no reason why more decisions affecting the people of the North-East shouldn't be made here. - Paul Rivers, Wallsend.

THE North-East has been looking for some form of self-government since before most of us were born, and we're finally being given the opportunity by a Labour Government - a party that was born in this region.

Complaining about details is understandable, but beside the point. If we say no now, we may never get this opportunity again.

We will be able to influence the growth and development of the assembly - but only if we have it!

Saying no means allowing civil servants and quangos to retain control over how taxpayers' money is spent here and losing our only chance for a voice for the North-East. How can that even be an option? - Damian Lee, Sunderland.

OLYMPIC GAMES

AS a keen sports' fan and appreciative watcher of our coxless fours' successful efforts at this year's Olympic Games, I was interested to read Hannah Stephenson's article about Matthew Pinsent (Echo, Sept 13).

However proud as I am of being Scots by birth, I am also extremely supportive of the efforts of anyone from the 'home' nations wearing the Team GB vest.

So I was profoundly disappointed to find that I had tuned in early one morning earlier this summer to cheer on, according to your columnist, the English coxless fours.

The crew I believe are all English, but they were representing Great Britain on this occasion. - K Russell, Thornaby.

Hartlepool BY-ELECTION

AS a Conservative campaigning in the Hartlepool by-election, it quickly becomes clear that in the shadows of the town's flagship areas of regeneration, there is real deprivation where people's lives are blighted by anti-social behaviour, drugs and crime.

These are decent hardworking people who deserve the opportunities which others can take for granted.

Decades of Labour control have resulted only in broken promises with the Liberal Democrats forever soft on crime and the causes of crime.

Jeremy Middleton, in focusing his campaign on law and order, is demonstrating that Conservatives care about the most vulnerable in Hartlepool who have been forgotten and neglected for too long.

It is for these people who live daily with crime and the fear of crime that it really is time to make a difference. - Michael Fishwick, Thornley.

MAKE-UP

ONCE again EA Moralee has not got her facts right (HAS, Sept 15).

Fact: make-up does not damage your skin, that is an old wives' tale. Make-up stops skin damage from the sun. Girls do understand about cleansing and toning and moisturising. They are not as stupid as she thinks.

They do not lose their fresh girlish complexions. In fact, modern products enhance and allow you to keep your girlish complexion a lot longer.

Fifty years ago most girls didn't have ambitions, only to be a wife and mother, nothing else. Nowadays girls want it all, and who can blame them?

Fifty years ago women were old at 30, thankfully that has changed, and so have make-up products. - Mrs J Stasiak, Darlington.