PENSIONS: EA Moralee (HAS, May 19) gives a very jaundiced and, in fact, inaccurate impression of the arrangements for paying pensions and benefits directly into customers' accounts.

The vast majority of pensioners who have already converted to direct payment have found the experience straightforward and painless and, of course, they can all still collect their money in cash at the Post Office if they want to.

Far from discouraging anyone from using their local Post Office to collect their benefits, by promoting new services like the Post Office Card Account and access to personal bank accounts, we hope that people will have even more reasons to visit their local Post Office.

In addition, the Government has provided £500m to computerise the Post Office's counter services. They also announced a further £450m to help support the rural network over the next three years, and have given the Post Office a contract for the Post Office Card Account that is potentially worth £1bn over its lifetime. This should demonstrate that the Government and this department in particular are deeply committed to maintaining the Post Office network. - Andy Collins, Department for Work and Pensions.

BEAUTY CONTEST

I WAS surprised to read that there is to be a revival of a beauty contest and that it is to be held at Sedgefield Racecourse.

I saw one of these at Newcastle Racecourse a few years ago. Half way through the card, where the horses had paraded round the ring before each race carrying a number - so the women paraded also carrying numbers.

It was hard to avoid the inferences of the women and horses in similar activities. It was a spectacle that I do not wish to see again.

If this outdated activity is meant to be an attraction for racegoers then the race committee at Sedgefield should be informed otherwise. The obvious answer is to boycott this particular meeting.

I am surprised that The Northern Echo has given it such sympathetic coverage. - Gloriana Morehead, Darlington.

SPEED CAMERAS

SOME of the nonsense spoken and written about speed cameras goes beyond the pale.

One example is a reference (Echo, May 19) to cash cows, a term which trips readily off the tongue, but is quite unjustified.

No such camera ever raised any revenue without the active support of drivers breaking the law.

Millions of motorists drive past these cameras every day without a qualm, but the Transport Secretary is giving way, little by little, to a vociferous minority who are enraged to find that they can no longer flout speed limits without penalty. - Bob Jarratt, Caldwell.

EUROPE

I COMPLETELY disagree with Charles Johnson (HAS, May 20) when he says "only the Conservatives have demonstrated they will stand up and be counted and put the people of our nation first".

All the Conservatives have done is show no interest in getting the best deal from the EU for Britain. Their party policy seems to be to get Britain out of Europe by the back door.

At least parties like UKIP don't lie about their motives, however damaging they would be to the UK.

The only party which really gets the best deal for Britain is Labour, as it has proven over the past 70 years. Working with Europe, not against it, has meant that not only has Britain got more out of the EU, brought more jobs to the North-East, helping to lower unemployment, but Britain has gained more respect among the other member states, giving us an even stronger position in Europe. - Patrick Thomas, Newcastle.

PLASTIC BAGS

EIGHTEEN months ago, Durham County Council launched a campaign to reduce the number of plastic carrier bags entering the waste stream in the county.

The initiative attracted national interest and widespread publicity and, during the course of last year, as the campaign developed, it won the support of the British Retail Consortium and national retailers Marks & Spencer, Sainsburys and Tesco, who each introduced more eco-friendly alternatives to the 'standard' disposable plastic carrier bag.

During the summer, the county council took a waste awareness roadshow to various communities throughout the county, during which it distributed free jute bags to promote its campaign.

How pleasing it is, therefore, to see that Easington District Council is now following suit, and is also seeking to reduce the unnecessary use of plastic carrier bags by offering similar jute bags to its residents.

It may be 18 months late in supporting our campaign, but better late than never.

We strongly encourage other district councils to follow its example, or rather the county council's example. - Councillor Joe Armstrong, Chairman, Overview and Scrutiny Committee, Durham County Council.

GREAT NORTH RUN

HERE is an idea for any of your readers who are fit, energetic and love children.

Would you consider running the Great North Run 2004, which takes places on September 26, to raise desperately-needed funds for ChildLine - the free helpline for children and young people?

Each day around 520 local children call ChildLine Yorkshire and North-East but, sadly, lack of funds means that only half of them get through to the comfort, advice and protection that our volunteer counsellors offer.

By choosing to run for ChildLine, readers can help us answer more calls and make a real difference to the children, saving lives and protecting them from pain.

If you can raise at least £250 sponsorship to enter the race, this will help us to answer more than 70 calls from children who often have nowhere else to turn. Help keep ChildLine on track, and ring 0113 244 4004 for a sponsorship pack and entry form.

It is only with the generosity of people like your readers that we are able to offer our vital service to children in Yorkshire and the North-East.

On behalf of the desperate children who call, thank you for your support. - Esther Rantzen OBE, Chair, ChildLine.