POLITICS: WE are teetering upon a brink of a precipice and, unless we pull back at the last moment, stand to lose everything we hold most dear: our British way of life, based on traditional family values and embodied physically in our ancient countryside and historic towns and cities.

The fact is, we have stood idly by while all manner of alien standards, customs and exotic lifestyles have taken root here.

You only have to look at the disgusting antics that are now portrayed as normal on TV and the fate of those who dare to challenge this state of affairs, like the elderly man in Brighton who was hounded to his death not so long ago.

These are the classic symptoms of a society in terminal decline.

We now need to support a political party that is uncompromisingly committed to defending Britain and the British way of life: the UK Independence Party. As for the Conservatives and New Labour, they both belong in the garbage can of history. - T Kelly, Crook.

MIDDLE EAST

I WOULD like to draw attention to Amnesty's recent report on Israel and the Occupied Territories, entitled Under The Rubble: House Demolition and the destruction of Land and Property.

The document spotlights the dreadful effects of the homelessness endemic in Palestine, with 3,000 properties and vast areas of agricultural land having been destroyed, including ten per cent of all land in Gaza and 226,000 trees uprooted in the last three years alone.

One of the reasons given for knocking down houses is that they may house the families of suicide bombers. The shelling of these houses caused huge damage, with adjacent dwellings also destroyed, and the deaths of many innocent people, including women and children. This amounts to collective punishment of civilians, an action forbidden by treaties, such as Geneva Convention to which Israel is party.

The demolition, combined with restrictions on travel, has created terrible poverty, with half the population living below the breadline.

We would ask you to please write to the Prime Minister and/or your MPs and request that action is taken to stop the Israelis from destroying properties and punishing innocent people in this way. - John Severs, Durham Amnesty Group campaign co-ordinator.

SMOKING

HOW stupid can the Health Secretary get, condoning any single 21-year-old mother who smokes cigarettes?

If she is 21 years old and a mother, in the place where she lives will be a baby or a toddler, so it is all right for that child to be inflicted with passive smoke and breathe air which is contaminated from the day of its birth?

Does John Reid want more patients for the NHS to treat? Aren't there enough deaths through smoking already? - E Reynolds, Wheatley Hill.

D-DAY

I VERY much enjoyed the recent articles in The Northern Echo commemorating D-Day 60-years on.

It was interesting to read Sgt Charles Eagles' D-Day Diary account of his wartime experiences, and, of course, CSM Stanley Hollis's story on how he won the Victoria Cross.

The veterans were truly proud on their return to the Normandy beaches and their attendance at the commemorative event.

I was only a child during the Second World War and therefore find myself in agreement with the distinguished journalist Max Hastings when he says the generation following the one that fought in the war is hugely grateful that it was not called upon to undergo such an ordeal. - LD Wilson, Guisborough.

EUROPE

CLUFF'S carton: "Well I think the sooner we get out of Europe the better", (Echo, June 14) was brilliant.

Not only were the facial expressions perfect, but the fact that it fused a result which happened after full time with one which became clear only after midnight (when most of the Euro election results had been declared) makes it an extraordinary achievement for Cluff.

Spot on - unfortunately! - Anne Simpson, Richmond.

THE European Movement supported the 'Get the Vote Out' campaign of the Institute of Citizenship and is pleased with the increased turnout at the European elections, but we do not claim to be responsible for the increase. Our contacts with the public continue to reveal the need to develop understanding of the role of the European Union.

After the election, Kenneth Clarke stated that the main political parties have a responsibility to enable the general public to gain the knowledge to make more meaningful judgements. The small groups of people from across the parties who actively study the Eurzopean Union and try to interest the public are invariably asked, "Why is the Government not telling us this?'

In the longer term, we should ask if the education service designed for the 20th century meets the vastly changed situation of the 21st century.

Should a service largely geared for education for work be adjusted to take into account education for life? Has the recently introduced Citizenship GCSE been set up in a way that sparks off the political engagement required to defeat the apathy that is evident today?

Politicians of all the major parties need to address such questions.

The vast majority of people are sensible human beings who use knowledge wisely. They need the time and the input that meets their need to understand the full importance of the European Union in their lives.

Our politicians need to recognise this and act accordingly. - Bill Morehead, Darlington.

CANCER TREATMENT

PETER Cardy of Macmillan Cancer Relief is correct (Echo, June 15) when stating that the "Government needs to do more to end the postcode lottery for cancer patients".

The lottery of the cancer patients in the North-East is simply unacceptable.

This, along with many other inequalities suffered in the region, supports the case for a North-East Assembly, where decisions are made in the North-East, by the North-East. - Sophie White, Bishop Auckland.

HEALTH SERVICE

I WAS one of those lucky people that, up till retirement age, had very little experience of hospitals. A couple of sports injuries, plus visits to see my latest offspring in maternity wards, was all I had managed.

Since I retired in 1998, I have had to attend on a number of occasions for ill-health reasons.

Last week I was in Darlington Memorial Hospital for four days and shared a ward with patients with similar problems and needs.

The treatment and care I received during my operation, in the recovery unit and especially in Ward 32, was first class. The overall atmosphere between patients and all staff was such that I won't be upset if I have to make a further visit.

Also, I hope no one ever makes fun of hospital meals to me again. There was a wide choice and the food was of excellent quality. - J Trevor Munro, Darlington.