Sir, - I write to vent my anger at the state of the grass verges on the approaches to Richmond.

We are now entering our annual calendar of summer festivities, having just staged our annual Richmond Meet, and are about to proudly roll out a number of further events which will attract many visitors from outside the area.

Unfortunately, whilst we have taken every measure to ensure our historic town looks at its best, we are embarrassed at the route visitors have to take before they arrive.

The grass verges along Darlington Road especially are desperately in need of mowing and by appearing to be neglected, seem to attract discarded rubbish from passing cars.

Putting my own feelings to one side, I wish to extend my sympathies to any Richmond resident who is currently expecting visitors and shares my view on the state of the approaches to our beautiful town.

Perhaps if the county council is going to continue to ignore the overgrown state of our grass verges we should write to ITV offering Darlington Road to the producers of I'm a Celebrity - Get Me Out of Here as an alternative to the Australian jungle ...

COUN PETER GRANT

Fairview Gardens,

Richmond.

Well met

Sir, - May I thank everyone concerned with the organisation and support of Richmond Meet.

My thanks to the committee, individuals, ladies' committee and Black Hand Gang for their tremendous efforts, including, of course, the organisations that put on a splendid show on the Sunday when the weather turned quite damp. My thanks go also to all the traders of Richmond, too numerous to mention individually, who helped with donations and support.

Mostly though, I would like to thank the people of Richmond and the Dales who turned out to support the Meet over the whole weekend. That support makes all the effort worthwhile.

Unfortunately there was one particular downside. Our charity collection this year was not what it normally is, partly because of the weather, but also because of another unnamed and unlicensed organisation collecting on the same day. My apologies to anyone who thought they were donating to the Meet when they put money in a red box - all ours were yellow. However, I think I can safety say it was a successful weekend and those who came enjoyed it.

I would welcome any comments you may have regarding the weekend for future reference.

BOB WHITE

President, Richmond Meet

2 Whitefriars Close,

Richmond.

Carnival praise

Sir, - Over the last May bank holiday, Brompton held its annual carnival and I as secretary am pleased to say it was a great success. It's not that I am trying to blow my own trumpet, but to express my thanks to those in the village who helped to make it an excellent community effort. People will be only to well aware, it is all right organising these events but without good public spirit from both young and old the carnival would fail.

Each year Brompton carnival and sports committee raises funds through various community efforts, jumble sales, raffles, collections etc, and all of this would be in vain if people did not take part in the weekend programme of events. This year we tried one or two new ideas and all were very well received. We were, however, a little disappointed by the lack of fair rides for the over-eights but this was out of our hands.

In my opinion, though, the ones that really deserve a mention are the youngsters that took part throughout the weekend, from the rounders to the races and the many other events. In particular, the over-11s behaved extremely well, competing, having fun and just enjoying themselves.

Many people commented on this to myself and other committee members.

We did thank the children for their good-humoured participation, but nowadays children of this age group are often given a bad press, and I hope that this letter goes a little way to redress the balance.

I would also like to thank my fellow committee members, stewards, helpers and the fancy dress judges; please keep supporting us, and help to keep the carnival tradition alive.

MRS V A CORNFORTH

Secretary,

Brompton carnival and sports

committee.

Church state

Sir, - I was grateful for the editorial Happy Assumptions (D&S, May 16), and heartened to read such a clear and well-informed summary of the current state of Anglican rural church finances. You were surely correct to observe that without significant increases in financial support, parishioners cannot assume that the present numbers of parish clergy or churches will continue to be available.

It is perhaps worth point out that, regardless of any increase in income, the number of full-time clergy is set to decline as fewer offer themselves for this ministry. Thank God for the valuable (albeit part-time) ministries of the increasing number of non-stipendiary priests, and lay readers.

THE REV DAVID CHRISTIE

Vicar of Patrick Brompton with Hunton, Crakehall and Hornby,

The Vicarage,

Patrick Brompton,

Bedale.