HEART DISEASE

I WAS disappointed by your article on Crestor, a "super statin" which you say would save more people from dying from heart disease if only their GPs knew about it (Echo, Apr 15).

The article is potentially misleading and does not support your otherwise excellent campaign, A Chance To Live.

Statins are big business. The Americans spent $12.5bn on them last year. Crestor is a late arrival into the market.

You should have the same degree of scepticism for information from a drug company as you would information from a car salesperson.

Increased cholesterol, which Crestor is said to combat, is contributory - not responsible - for 46 per cent of UK heart disease deaths. As a large part of the population has increased cholesterol anyway, this statistic proves nothing.

We know that following a heart attack, ten people have to use a statin for five years to prevent one death. If you want to prevent heart disease altogether, 26 people have to take it for five years to prevent one death.

Eating a Mediterranean diet, with oily fish, and stopping smoking are all more effective individually than statins, as are treating high blood pressure, reducing obesity levels and the appropriate use of aspirin.

Using a "super statin" to help tackle the problem of heart disease in the North-East is nowhere near as effective as dealing with issues of deprivation, poor education, access to healthcare and healthy living (which means regular exercise, good diet and smoking cessation).

Undeniably, GPs have to improve overall care of heart disease, and statins are vital within that. But don't forget that drug companies don't make their money by selling oily fish! - Dr William Lumb GP, Richmond, North Yorkshire.

WAR AGAINST IRAQ

What a splendid article about the conflict from Ashok Kumar MP (Echo, Apr 4).

Many years ago I had a teacher at school, a real old-fashioned disciplinarian who frightened the life out of his pupils - ergo, he was a terrorist. - Peter Johnson, Darlington.

DONALD Rumsfeld, the American defence secretary, has said that Iraqi soldiers will be treated as war criminals. This from the man who drops cluster bombs on children.

Judge for yourself who is the war criminal. - Hugh Pender, Darlington.

THE Territorial Army will be running a spring recruiting campaign until June 1.

Not since the end of the Cold War have the nation's reserve forces been more important.

Large numbers of the TA and the other reserves responded willingly to the call to play their part in Iraq and others, unseen but well prepared, are constantly ready to support the police and other emergency services should any major incident arise in this country itself.

The TA today is highly useable, well trained and equipped and it is recruiting now.

But it isn't just a one-way street where only the country and the TA benefit. TA members and other reserve forces gain skills which are of great value to them and to their employers - a clear case of benefit all round.

Most of all, they play a key role in our defence in all circumstances. - Sandy Hunter, Reserve Forces and Cadets Association for the North of England, Durham.

DARLINGTON

WELL done, Darlington Council for your anti-litter drive. The town centre is looking really tidy and attractive. Even more pleasing is the difference the campaign is making to the town's residential areas. Keep up the good work. It encourages everyone to have pride in their town. - Eddy Jenkinson. Darlington.

WILLINGTON

I RECENTLY returned to Willington after many years away. It holds many memories for me, especially during the 1930s, 1940s and 1950s, when there was a great Christian influence in the community. Considerable numbers of people attended the Methodist chapels in High Street and Chapel Street. Lydia Street Wesleyan Chapel was also very well supported.

Canon Hudson and his curate were often seen among the Anglican community which had flourishing congregations. My own church, Our Lady and St Thomas in Cumberland Terrace, was very well used.

Alas, much has changed. The chapels in High Street and Chapel Street no longer exist. Smaller numbers attend all the churches compared with yesteryear.

My own church now has to share a priest with another parish. Surprisingly many people with a great family tradition of service to the church do not attend.

What has happened? I can only presume that prosperity has diverted many from previous strong beliefs. Cars, televisions and now computers leave little time to many who used to gain great satisfaction from the practice of their Christian faith.

I needn't remind Christians that this life is transitory. We are all on a journey. Do many people wonder where they are going? I suggest that the people of Willington should make the effort to support their churches and chapels. - J Connor, Willington.

RELIGION

NOW the authorities accept that our religious festivals are offensive to people of other religions and our judges etc would rather wear baseball caps than wigs in courts, might they next consider the Bible has no relevance and the oath should be taken holding a car repair manual instead? - A Curle, Ferryhill.

RAY MALLON

YOUR columnist and Middlesbrough mayor Ray Mallon wonders why people prefer dramatised crime on TV to sitting in the public gallery of a magistrates court and witnessing the real McCoy (Echo, April 4).

Court scenes on TV are very carefully scripted, Mr Mallon, which gives actors a distinct advantage over the real McCoy in a magistrates court. Actors also have appropriate voices and the necessary ability to exploit them.

Off hand, I can think of only one person who could speak almost as well as he could write: the late Lord Hailsham. - Alfred H Lister, Guisborough.