THE report of a possible puma inhabiting the quiet precinct of Scar Top, Barnard Castle, (Echo, Jul 11) has disturbed me greatly.

I regularly sit on Scar Top eating an ice cream after cycling over from Bishop Auckland. I find it a place of tranquility where I can enjoy the setting and the beautiful trees.

During the summer it is always delightful to view the swallows flying low over the grass. Sometimes, if you are lucky, you can see a squirrel scavenging for food amid the rubbish bins and often rabbits will appear.

Now of course, everything has changed. I will sit on Scar Top a hunted man. I will forever be looking at the woodland, straining to discern any sign of yellow, malevolent eyes or the shape of ferocious teeth.

I will be in instant readiness to leap on my bicycle in the event of the puma giving chase.

Perhaps, if I can make it to Galgate, the puma, being a shy creature, will relinquish the pursuit and retire to the woodland.

Such thoughts bring about considerable apprehension in me. I just might give up cycling and Scar Top all together.

After all, I need to renew my acquaintance with the fairies at the bottom of my garden. - Derek Parker, Bishop Auckland.

THE POST THINKING it could only get better because I had lost so many items of importance in the post and because first class delivery takes two days, I have twice a week for the past eight years paid £3.60 for "special delivery".

It is regrettable, but it is a necessary business cost to ensure prompt delivery.

Now, in North Yorkshire, there is an experimental £14 premium surcharge for businesses which receive less than 20 items of post per day.

Poor old Postman Pat must be very embarrassed by this. I wonder what he said during the employee consultation process? The Royal Mail has a legal obligation to deliver mail that has been stamped and posted. I, for one, will refuse to pay a surcharge and will, if necessary, take legal proceedings to obtain delivery of post if it is withheld because of non-payment.

But I suspect that the surcharging for a delivery of under 20 items per day idea will be dropped since it is almost certainly unenforceable.

Businesses in rural locations are not as idyllic as Postman Pat's Greendale. They suffer from a lack of banks, the closing of village post offices, a limited service from BT, higher fuel prices, restricted police presence and now, in the area I live, a charge from Royal Mail. If any of these issues affected the villagers of Westminster there might well be some understanding of the matter. - Peter Troy, Maunby, near Thirsk.

THE ARMY THE recent TV programme Lads' Army, supposedly an accurate portrayal of life as a national serviceman, was disgraceful.

The NCOs in the programme were dressed like bags of spuds tied in the middle. Not one uniform had been ironed or tailored to fit, boots had not seen a lick of polish, brasses were not polished. This behaviour would not have been tolerated. Striking any recruit is a court martial offence, resulting in demotion, possible imprisonment, or dishonourable discharge from HM Forces.

Food was cooked, dished up and eaten in the cookhouse, not in barrack rooms. The NCOs did not walk on tables or dictate any particular way of eating.

I lost many friends - conscripts but good soldiers no less - in minor skirmishes in Korea, Malaya, Suez and Cyprus in the name of our country. - Cpl Matthews, Ex 8th RTR (57th Training Regt) 1947-1952, Catterick Garrison.

ROYALTY REMEMBER the old saying: "Where there's a will there's a way." It's now: "Where there's a William there's a stunning model." It's time Britain was a republic. - Aled Jones, Bridlington.

SOLVENT ABUSE FOLLOWING your article "Shop owners are encouraged to ask for age cards" (Echo, June 14), your readers may be interested to note that Re-Solv, the Society for the Prevention of Solvent and Volatile Substance Abuse, operates a Freephone National Helpline on 0808 800 2345. It can also be contacted by e-mail at helplinere-solv.org.

Our head office address is 30A High Street, Stone, ST15 8AW. Telephone: (01785) 817885. - Kathy, Assistant Helpline Officer, Re-Solv.

SCHIZOPHRENIA GEORGE Harrison's family are understandably concerned about the reported discharge from hospital of the man who attacked him (Echo, July 5).

But while schizophrenia is a serious illness, it can be treated successfully.

Unfortunately, such is the public stigma attached to mental illness that many people who experience it do not engage with mental health services, or seek the treatment that can help them. A better public understanding and acceptance of this terrible illness (which affects one person in 100) gives us the best chance of reducing the risk of incidents such as that involving George Harrison. - Simon Lawton-Smith, Mental After Care Association, London.

ARCHITECTURE THERE are not that many buildings of merit in Darlington, especially of modern construction. One of the redeeming features of the Shuttle and Loom public house in Whinfield Road was the quality of the bricks and the workmanship. Therefore, can anyone tell me why they have painted this facade in bright yellow paint from ground to roof level with an "eye shadow blue" band? It ruins the brickwork forever. Surely they would have to have planning permission for this appearance alteration? Mind you, they have not painted the small patch where the toilet overflow has been leaking for at least the two years! - Harry Watson, Darlington.