29/05/03

I like to play in the park beside my estate. I like to play football but I can't. I can't because a bright green motorbike keeps on circling us around the goals, and I can't blast the football down the field. I read that the motorbike ran over a dog last night (Echo, May 27). Please would Darlington council do something about it before one of us gets run over! - David McNab, Darlington.

THE RIGHT

MOST people have seen what the BNP stands for, but I have come across another party that also is spreading lies and hate with its stickers and leaflets being pushed out around St Helens and Woodhouse estates in Bishop Auckland.

This group is called the White Nationalist Party. After looking at its website and doing a bit of digging around, the WNP has very strong links to Combat 18.

Let's hope the good people of Bishop Auckland see the party for what it is. - Dave Green, Bishop Auckland.

RUNNING

I APPLAUD Ruth Campbell's gallant effort to run the ten-mile road race and have the tenacity to finish it (Echo, May 15).

Her article brought back memories of 1984 when, at the age of 55, I ran in the Darlington Half Marathon (12 miles). I had been jogging for some time, but had never run more than five miles before.

On the day of the race I joined the crowd of female 'fun runners' in Victoria Road. By the time we reached Blackwell Corner, I was running last, accompanied closely by an ambulance and a policeman on a motorbike.

This was so embarrassing that when I reached Neasham I was considering giving up. There I caught up with another runner who was flagging due to a heavy cold. We continued together with mutual encouragement.

On reaching Grange Road in the final mile of the race, I found more energy and overtook at least 30 other runners, so I was not the last to finish.

I treasure my plastic medal, gained for finishing inside the stipulated time limit and I raised over £200 for charity. - AE Carr, Darlington.

FLYING

I CANNOT understand the Dambusters' navigator Tom Jaye's belief that the pilots of heavy bombers were distinguished and decorated far more often than the rest of the crew (Echo, May 17).

Of course, the pilot was in charge, but the pilot needs the flight engineer to get off the ground. Then the navigator gives the pilot the directions to fly to the target. On reaching the target, the bomb-aimer determines if the raid will be a success.

If attacked by enemy fighters, it is the air gunners who will be in charge of the maneouvres. During the flight, the wireless operator is checking equipment and is in touch with HQ.

Finally, most aircrew were well aware that if it was not for the ground staff there would be no flying at all. - E Reynolds, Wheatley Hill.

DURHAM TOILET

DURING the council's work in North Road, Durham City, a pop-up toilet has been installed outside the entrance to the Iceland store. It is approximately three metres from the store entrance.

I wonder which council department decided that it would be a good idea to place a toilet outside a food store?

I understand that the Australian theme bar in the former cinema is financing this toilet. Surely it would have been more sensible to put the toilet near the Australian bar rather than 150 metres away outside a food store. - Harry Stout, Durham City.

HELPLINES

CHRIS Lloyd's column made an amusing but important point about telephone helplines (Echo, May10).

When using these lines it is not uncommon to spend over an hour trying to get through. I now write a letter rather than use the phone. - LD Wilson, Guisborough.

DARLINGTON

I AM very pleased about the restoration of the Music Centre in Darlington by David Cox. Its closure was a great loss to the musicians of Darlington as it provided a central point for rehearsals. I hope the project goes well. - Stephen J Alderson, Hurworth, Darlington.

HOMECOMING

NICK Morrison's article on the Battle of Marston Moor (Echo, May 5) was most enlightening and highlighted the abject failure of the Royalists who were resisting Oliver Cromwell.

Much more poignant was the front page picture by Richard Doughty showing two children welcoming their father home from Iraq. The unconcealed joy of the children and their father was apparent for all to see.

It brought into sharp relief the fact that some fathers did not return to their wives, children and parents. - Hugh Pender, Darlington.

THE LEFT

IN ANSWER to CT Riley (HAS, May 15), who created the movement that in Russia under Stalin carried out the murder, torture and deportation of tens of millions of people; that in China under Mao Tse Tung produced human suffering on a scale yet to be comprehended; that as the German Workers' Party, or National Socialists, rapidly evolved into the Nazis? Who did? The left.

Why doesn't CT Riley include these in his list of the left's achievements? - Tony Kelly, Crook.

REFERENDUM

I WARNED your readers through this column over four years ago what a disaster 'Phony Tony' would be. I told you that he would be remembered for taking the 'great' out of Britain.

He has taken our freedom and way of life away with his obsession with Europe. But it is not too late to fight and win our country back. Let's demand a vote on our future and freedom. - F Wealands, Darlington.

THANKS

I WOULD like to thank the lady who helped my husband after his fall in Whinfield Road, Darlington recently. Thanks also to the two neighbourhood wardens who attended to him and called the ambulance which was there in a matter of minutes. Thank you to the paramedics who were so kind and caring. - V Flanagan, Darlington.