VANDALISM

ALTHOUGH I have lived in Darlington for 25 years, I walked through the North Cemetery for the first time recently and I was deeply shocked at what lay before me.

It was like a war zone with gravestones knocked over and damaged beyond repair. The once noble church was completely vandalised and covered in gang slogans.

Also, the cottage in the driveway from the main gate was in a similar state.

How could this be allowed to happen without the authorities taking any action?

In my humble opinion, anyone caught vandalising a grave should be punished by public whipping and given a long custodial prison sentence.

After all, this is the final resting place for all of us. - R Downie, Darlington.

ANIMAL SNARES

I AM grateful to John Bryant, a former employee of the League Against Cruel Sports, for confirming that the League commissioned research that used snares to catch and release foxes (HAS, Aug 14) while at the same time campaigning for a ban on snares.

But why is it left to a former employee to defend the League's apparently hypocritical behaviour?

Let's have a straight answer from the horse's mouth: was the League Against Cruel Sport's use of fox snares for its own purpose defensible - yes or no? - AM Mitchell, Northumberland.

ROAD RACE

I WOULD like to take this opportunity to thank Jeff Dawson of Darlington Borough Council, his staff, and sponsors CD Bramall for another excellent 10k Road Race.

The event ran like clockwork and the results were produced quickly and efficiently. We at Darlington Harriers are proud to be associated for the many years it has been run.

I will refrain from saying a few words to the rude and very impatient woman who was unwilling to wait in her car until the athletes had passed and gave one of our lady members, who was marshalling at a busy road junction, a tirade of disgusting verbal abuse. - Robin Rutherford, Darlington Harriers.

SADDAM HUSSEIN

IT annoys me when the left-wingers hit out at the possibility of another war with Iraq.

These anti-American idiots would not even condemn the Middle East if Saddam Hussein bombed London. They would probably say it was an 'act of revenge' on the torment the West has imposed on Iraq. Nonsense.

We must tackle Saddam Hussein now before he has the capability to attack the United Kingdom or any other civilised country.

We must and we will support President Bush. His nation is our biggest ally and we must stand together to eliminate the evil terrorists of this world. - Christopher Wardell, Darlington.

LIVESTOCK EXPORTS

LIVE lambs are again being exported from Dover, despite immense public protest regarding this trade.

The foot-and-mouth epidemic cost the taxpayer billions of pounds in compensation and clear up payments. Surely enough is enough, the farming industry is losing our sympathy.

The farmers fully realise the suffering their animals endure in severely overcrowded trucks, often without food or water for journeys lasting up to 40 hours or more.

I am certain that we all want to see farming go forward in a way which is humane and sustainable and certainly not tarnished by the cruelty of live export. - J Ward, Ashington.

SECOND WORLD WAR

A PYLE (HAS, Aug 9) says the only help we got from America was 40 broken down destroyers while we were on our own against Germany. Why should a nation that was neutral, having entered the First World War in 1917, be sucked into another European conflict on the continent?

Britain, France and Poland had been defeated by the then world's greatest war machine. The rest is all history with the awakening of a sleeping giant. - Raymond Reed, Richmond.

YOUR correspondent (HAS, Aug 9) should be ashamed to say such a thing about America's aid to our country in the last war. His reference to 'broken down destroyers' is complete nonsense.

What about all the other equipment plus food, etc?

I suggest he goes to see the thousands of American dead in the massive cemeteries in France, Belgium and Holland, who gave their lives in our battle for freedom.

We should be grateful that we can count America as our friend. Thank God we have America and President Bush, who sees what evil is happening in Islamic countries.

We hope Tony Blair has the sense to stay with President Bush over Iraq because Saddam Hussein is the danger man to our world peace and especially to the Jewish state of Israel which would be destroyed by Iraq straight away. - F Wealand, Darlington.

SAFEWAY PLANS

I TRUST Safeway's withdrawal of plans to expand its store in Darlington is followed up with a more robust future application.

I, in common with many other Darlington shoppers, would welcome the expansion and continue to use the new pedestrian crossing on Victoria Road to visit the town centre and market, leaving my car on Safeway's excellent free parking facility for up to the permitted three hours.

I do understand the planning department's concern over the viability of the town centre, yet none of its occupants have objected, apart from Boots.

Come on Darlington Borough Council, try coming to terms with the real commercial world and encourage expansion by one of the town's existing retailers.

Refusal to do so will not resolve the town centre issues, nor will it benefit all the pubs, building societies, banks, charity shops, cards and gift stores, jewellers, fast food outlets and travel agencies which comprise its current appeal. - Simon Kirkpatrick, Darlington.