Sir, - Many people, including leading archaeologists, are incredulous at the loss of the prehistoric landscape and associated archaeology around the unique ritual Neolithic and Bronze Age Thornborough Henge complex.

In 1991/2 Tilcon commissioned a pre-planning application archaeological survey on what is now the Nosterfield quarry. Part of the resulting report said: "As a consequence it must be assumed that the area of proposed extraction lies within, though probably at the extreme margins of, the main prehistoric ritual landscape."

In the document produced for the North Yorkshire County Council Planning Committee (July 1994) this important advice was omitted. On this evidence alone planning guidelines (PPG16) should have prevented the approval of this application as it states that: "Where nationally important archaeological remains, whether scheduled or not, and their settings are affected by proposed development there should be a presumption in favour of their physical preservation in situ" and that there should be a presumption against disturbing the setting of visible remains.

The county council is charged with protecting our heritage, but it has yet again demonstrated its pro-quarrying bias.

Its stance continues. Only recently its senior archaeologist asserted that the sacred plateau or ritual landscape was the construct of a few local people's imagination, and denied any threat to this landscape.

This important archaeological site is certainly not safe in the hands of the quarry companies and their partners at North Yorkshire County Council.

R J LONSDALE

Nosterfield,

Bedale.

Need for review

Sir, - Your leading article (D&S, Nov 7) well describes CPRE's plea for a public enquiry into the area surrounding and including the Thornborough Henges as "unorthodox".

It is. That it is demonstrates a grave weakness in the way government and planning authorities do not arrange matters so that their investigations cover the interests of the area as a whole rather than one or other aspect of it.

At Thornborough there are at present quarrying, wildlife reserve, archeological, county council rubbish disposal, English Heritage, local inhabitant and local landowner interests. In the recent past excellent wild flower meadows have been destroyed. This is a very wide spectrum of interests and a wide ranging inquiry is needed. The government is incompetent if it cannot see this need and respond to it.

I hope everyone concerned will join with CPRE and press for the widest possible investigation.

DAVID CLARKE

Chairman, Hambleton District Campaign to Protect Rural England

Hutton Rudby.

Good entente

Sir, - I would like to thank the people of Masham, in particular the community office, for the warmth and hospitality shown to French farmers from the Limousin area who were in the town for four days.

At the weekend they experienced the very successful bonfire, and the following day the Armistice parade.

This visit, mixing with a group of British farmers, was part of the build-up to the International Limousin Congress 2004 at which two local firms I'Ansons and Ritchey will be part of the sponsoring group.

In particular, Sophie Gore of the community office must be congratulated for co-ordinating her team of Tony and Sarah Whiting, George and Sue Forby, Prue Keigwin and Rita Dinsdale who provided accommodation and meals.

The visit was particularly important because M Louis De Neuville, president of the ILC accompanied the party, and it was to Masham he first came in 1971 when many of the first Limousin cattle imports came to High Burton Farm.

As a result of this visit, it is possible other links will develop which could bring together cattle and culture in an environmental project.

MIKE KEEBLE

Hammer Farm,

Masham.

Wartime tale

Sir, - I am an aviation historian and author who has spent some years researching the German Junkers 88 aircraft that crashed on Eston Hills on Sunday, March 30, 1941.

The aircraft belonged to the long-range reconnaissance unit L(F)/123 and was on an armed reconnaissance mission to Manchester when it was shot down by two Spitfires from Catterick.

Until recently, I had been under the impression that only one member of the crew had bailed out of the stricken aircraft. However, there now seems to be some grounds for believing that more than one German might have taken to his parachute. If that is the case, it could have intriguing implications.

If any reader has memories of this incident, no matter how small or seemingly trivial, I would be very pleased to hear from them. It is the small detail that allows the full picture to be constructed..

BILL NORMAN

23a Thames Avenue,

Guisborough TS14 8AE.

Family search

Sir, - I am hoping to contact friends and acquaintances of my late grandmother, Doris Denham, particularly people who knew her in 1946-7 and earlier.

Originally from St Helen Auckland, she did, at this time, I believe, live and work in Richmond, most likely at the King's Head Hotel in the Market Place, where part of her duties may have included attending to the owner/manager's invalid wife.

A lively and outgoing individual she was known to be a good singer and I would not be surprised if she were an enthusiastic member of the social scene in Richmond and Darlington in the immediate post-war years.

I would be most grateful for anyone who knew Doris at this time to contact me.

Dr PAUL DONOHUE

11 Broadlands Drive,

Malvern,

Worcestershire, WR14 1PW.