JOHN Young's letter (HAS, Apr 1) regarding the cost to the taxpayer of police and firefighters' pensions is quite correct that, at 55 and with 30 years' service, they are entitled to a half of pay pension with a huge lump sum or a two-thirds pension, so it would not be wise to carry on when you would be working for half pay or one third pay.

Another job with a full wage, plus a pension, is economic sense until 65 and another pension.

But one must remember the old age pension has been paid for and superannuation has been paid for the 30 years' service.

Armed forces receive a pension with just over 20 years service, but that is paid for by the Government.

All these retirement ages relate to the fitness of men to carry out their jobs in the days when most people died a lot younger than nowadays.

Obviously, we would not like old people fighting in the Army or struggling to rescue someone from a fire, or running after criminals, but in modern times, when people are living much longer than in Victorian days, perhaps a review would be sensible. - E Reynolds, Wheatley Hill.

HOMES DEMOLITION

I WAS most interested in your report concerning the commencement of the demolition of the Trinity Estate in North Ormesby, Middlesbrough (Echo, Mar 30).

As my elderly parents lived on the estate, may I vent my feelings on the bizarre way the event was staged?

To call it a jolly junket would not be an under-statement. A middle-aged lady romping among the ruins and posing to be photographed in the process did nothing to dispel this opinion.

Did no one give a thought for the poor tenants, like my parents, who were unceremoniously turfed out of their homes? The council put expediency before their welfare and their feelings.

Why were they harassed by the council in such a way? The whole relocation process turned into a debacle.

The council promised them help with removing - packing and unpacking, etc. This promise was not kept and my parents' furniture and worldly possessions were strewn everywhere at their new bungalow.

Refugees and even asylum seekers are treated better than this. And to think my father served his country with distinction. - Name and address supplied.

COUNCIL FINANCES

WHEN paying for increases in our council tax, we can take comfort from the knowledge that some of it will add to the already astronomical amount we spend on education.

The idea being possibly to enable the comprehensives to do even better what they are good at doing, ie producing large numbers of anti-social illiterates.

An edifying prospect, for which thanks must go to the pseudo-liberal elite who dominate both main political parties and to whom discipline and respect are dirty words (about the only ones).

In fairness, many teachers struggle heroically against appalling odds to do the best for the youngsters in their care.

And I would not have their job for a footballer's wages. - Tony Kelly, Crook.

MYRA Smith (HAS, Mar 25) fails to mention that the Christmas Ice Rink/Market in Spennymoor cost £53,329. She should try and explain to council tax payers why it had a net loss of £28,891.

The recent announcement that £100,000 is to be spent on linking the leisure centre to the shopping centre should be put to public consultation.

This money could have been used to improve the Asda Gateway and provide new shops on the old town site and hence make Spennymoor a more attractive place to shop.

The Liberal Democrats' shops petition at least made Sedgefield Borough Council concentrate on the shopping area. Prior to this the shops were in a state of decline.

I welcome the refurbishment of the shop fronts with grants. However, funds are limited.

I must point out that Spennymoor has not received its fair share from the environmental capital budget. Since 1995/96 we have received a mere £7.92m from a borough budget of £53.38m.

This at a time when a Band D council tax in Spennymoor is £1,216, and the Sedgefield Borough Council tax is the highest in England. - Ben Ord, LibDem, Spennymoor Ward, Sedgefield Borough Council.

ANIMAL WELFARE

I HAVE just read about a sickening trade that makes me ashamed of the human race. It details the conditions in which 87,000 horses a year are sent by road from Poland to Italy where they are slaughtered for human consumption.

Farm horses, ponies and even foals are bought in Polish markets and crowded into lorries, many of which are old and unfit even for local journeys. It is the start of an horrendous journey that can last five days, cover over 2,000 kilometres and cross six countries. During this ordeal, many of the horses have no rest, water or food and are driven directly to the slaughterhouses. Invariably, overcrowded, stressed and terrified, they frequently fall and struggle desperately to regain their feet. Once down, they can be trampled, urinated and defecated on, wounded by being trampled and even killed. Over 70 per cent of these journeys end in fatalities.

Most Polish people love horses and don't eat horse meat. They are as outraged as me about this abuse of beautiful animals for profit. But Poland is not a wealthy country and people do not have the resources necessary to organise opposition to it. - Name and address supplied.