SOME of the remarks made by people questioned over whether Tony Blair should support the bombing of Iraq (Echo, Aug 10) were very worrying.

I'm not referring to the belligerent "blow Saddam up" and the like. What really concerns me are the replies which show a dangerous tendency to idolise Mr Blair. For example, "I would support the Prime Minister whatever he does."

Mr Blair is a human being, with human frailties. He makes mistakes, sometimes big ones, and is as likely as anyone else to get out of his depth at times when grappling with difficult situations and problems.

He is not Superman. He is not infallible. To vow to support a leader no matter what he or she does is treading on dangerous ground.

Blind obedience may sound romantic, but it is not wise. - EA Moralee, Billingham.

DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION

IN his call for action (Echo, Aug 14) against the board of the Teesside Development Corporation, does Dr Ashok Kumar include his Labour colleagues who were board members?

Lord Dormand of Easington, a Labour peer, Bryan Hanson of Hartlepool and his own Middlesbrough colleague, Coun Michael Carr were members of the board.

Has he a view on the choice of Coun Carr, by Ray Mallon, as Regeneration Cabinet member on the managerial team?

Liberals warned of the problems of the lack of openness of the TDC at the start of the TDC, so it is a pity the local Labour big wigs of the time allowed their people to join the board.- S Wilson, Former Lib-Dem Parliamentary Candidate.

REFUSE COLLECTION

I ENTIRELY agree with the views of H Terry (HAS, Aug 13) about Darlington Council's plans for refuse collection.

In this area we were all sent letters asking to put our refuse out on the day of collection. The majority have done this but a few still put their bags out early, ie three or four days prior to collection.

People will put their rubbish out early and this will encourage vermin.

Perhaps if the council spent less on computers and more on a few old fashioned big road sweeping brooms the streets would be a lot cleaner. - M King, Darlington.

I UNDERSTAND that the new arrangements for the collection of refuse in Darlington are that the council tax payers provide their own black plastic bags (which must be strong, by order of the council) and carry the bags to the end of their drives for collection.

Whilst accepting the need for local councils to save money, I wonder how Darlington Council can reconcile these new plans with its recent article in the Town Crier blowing its own trumpet about its concerns about environmental issues and the appointment of an officer to look at 'green issues'.

As any environmentalist or even the average man in the street knows, plastic will not rot down so our local council is instructing us all to use more plastic which will be put into their own landfill sites! What a good idea!

Secondly, we are being asked to buy our own strong plastic bags. I appreciate that many people already use these but for those who use dustbins, extra expense is involved. - Margaret Laybourn, Darlington.

MIDDLE EAST

WHEN writing about the Israeli-Palestinian situation why do writers keep quoting the suffering of the Jews during the Second World War?

The Palestinians were not responsible for that time. I was living and working in Jerusalem when the British Offices, situated in part of the King David Hotel, were blown up by Jewish terrorists.

Many were killed and injured. Every nation is tarnished by evil. Revenge is not sweet, it's bitter.

Friendship and understanding each other's point of view would solve the Middle East problem and many more.- Mrs Ralph, Darlington.

BUS STATION

I HAVE just returned by coach from a holiday in Edinburgh and I was absolutely appalled by the state of Durham Coach Station. It was filthy, it smelt horribly and the seating was a joke.

To say that our Cathedral is a World Heritage site and considering the way money has been spent to make the rest of the city beautiful surely a little more could be used to improve the coach station, even if it was covered over, or a cleaner employed. What must visitors think? - M Scott, Easington Village.

CHRISTMAS SHOPPING

I KNOW our summer has been a bit of a washout but last weekend we paid a visit to the garden centre at Birtley and I couldn't believe my eyes, Christmas has arrived.

Christmas trees, baubles and crackers were on sale. I had to get away quick.

I phoned the next day to be told it's because of staff shortages. Whatever that has to do with starting Christmas four months early I can't imagine. - P Martin, Croxdale.