POLITICAL PARTIES: JIM Tague (HAS, Dec 3) misses the point regarding those who are political or non-political. The fact that so many people cannot be bothered to vote must be of concern when one considers that the right to vote also brings a responsibility to vote.

The problem with political parties and their reliance on donors leaves them open to abuse and blackmail, and the obvious corruption by some who donate huge sums for favours rendered.

Even pressure groups and their influence makes for unfair advantage.

There is an urgent need for the political system we have at the moment to be changed and it can only be changed when political parties are no longer reliant on the highest bidders.

One of the problems with the politicians is their failure to deliver a fair and just society for the majority. They make sure their lot is well fed, their minions are looked after and the rest can fight among themselves.

Maybe the majority don't bother to vote because they have no faith in the present system, which must question the way we are doing things. But not to vote on such a scale is dangerous and lead to the loss of our democratic rights all together. - John Young, Crook.

VOLUNTARY SERVICE

AS the Christmas season draws near, may I pay tribute to the hundreds of volunteers from the Women's Royal Voluntary Service (WRVS) who give up their time throughout the year to make a real difference in their local communities.

Our volunteers provide many different services, including meals on wheels, books on wheels and hospital services, as well as caring for people affected by emergencies such as flooding and other disasters.

WRVS volunteers are very much part of the fabric of life in our region and it is fitting that during the festive season we should say a big thank you to them all. - Christine Dobson, Regional Volunteering Manager, WRVS, Darlington.

IRAQ

THE Western world will have to keep a careful eye on one George Bush; he is preparing for a war after Christmas to suit his election prospects, despite the UN's efforts at peacekeeping.

Weapons inspectors are the right way, if a bit laborious, to keep Saddam in check.

Their very presence in Iraq must slow his plans down somewhat and, if recent news of Saddam's atrocities are a fact, what about invading Mugabe's regime while we are putting the world to rights? - F Atkinson, Shincliffe.

PETER MULLEN

PETER Mullen jokes about our "decadence" (Echo, Dec 3) in allowing luxurious mosques to be built in this country and free entry permitted to hundreds of thousands of illegal aliens - some of whom desire to destroy us. His tongue may be in his cheek, but it is a matter too serious to be ignored.

It could be argued that we, as a nation, are setting an example of religious tolerance to the world. Our demonstration of generosity in welcoming aliens into our midst is bound to spur other countries to do the same. Sadly, time has shown this is not so. As Peter Mullen points out, in Muslim countries a person can be imprisoned for carrying a Bible. There are certainly no Christian places of worship allowed. No religious tolerance there. In effect, Christians are killed for daring to live in a Muslim country.

What is beyond the comprehension of many people in this country is that if living in a Muslim state is so wonderful, why do so many flee and come here?

Britain is, after all, nominally a Christian country, something abhorrent to Muslims. Also having arrived here, why do they seek, even insist on, continuing the Muslim way of life from which they claim to have fled in such terror? - EA Moralee, Billingham.

BLACK & DECKER

I AM saddened by the decline of the Black & Decker factory at Spennymoor. However, I was angered by the reports regarding the retirees' hampers which have been stopped.

This anger is not directed towards the management at Black & Decker, but towards the small-minded people who constantly nit-pick and 'put the boot in' in an already difficult situation.

The Government grant was, I'm sure, not given to Black & Decker with OAPs' hampers in mind, but as a resource to keep people employed for as long as possible within the area, which is what it is correctly being used for.

I understand that people came to appreciate these hampers at Christmas time, and I also expect that there are some ex-employees who understand completely and bear no ill. The hampers were, as you said, a goodwill gesture. Where is the goodwill towards the site at this difficult time? That is what I would like to know. - R Thompson, Co Durham.

LITTER

I UNDERSTAND that we are to have four "litter enforcement" days in Darlington before Christmas. This is a mere drop in the ocean.

Alhough there are many people who would never strew rubbish, there are more people who don't care - often, though not always, the young.

Litter bins, where present, are often piled with junk, and away from the town centre there are inadequate bins, or none at all.

This whole business has gone unchecked for far too long.

What use are notices threatening large fines for people who scatter rubbish, or for failing to clean up after their dogs, if no action is taken?

If the council is really intent on cleaning up the town it will need to employ more litter wardens who are able to fine the culprits.

Notices and council initiatives are no good, but certain action in various places at different times might have some effect, though I fear it will be a long job, after all the inertia.

A final thought: could the present bins be emptied more frequently? - Mrs CR Clayton, Darlington.