IDLE talk in the Tees Valley these days sometimes dwells on the idea of Stokesley as the new Yarm - a reference to its apparent move up-market.

It may not have quite as many trendy eateries as the riverside town, but nevertheless the movement of moneyed folk south from Teesside is undoubtedly changing the character of the North Yorkshire market community.

A survey of young people recently carried out by pupils at Stokesley School gave fresh insight into this phenomenon. Apparently some children receive up to £30 a week pocket money and a third of those surveyed receive over £20.

Another part of the survey highlighted concerns about the rising cost of houses in the area and the consequent difficulty young people have in getting their foot on the property ladder.

Spectator knows this might seem dreadfully old-fashioned but could not those youngsters with £20 or more burning a hole in their pocket each week put a little aside for that first two-up, two-down. Saving, now there's a novel concept.

Ultimate deterrent

HAMBLETON council's decision to introduce covert cameras to catch the owners of dogs allowed to foul the streets of Thirsk, Leeming, Osmotherley, Great Ayton and Romanby may seem the ultimate in Big Brother-style policing.

But it is clear that in almost every community a small but significant number of dog owners will not embrace the idea of clearing up after their pets.

The cameras will undoubtedly have an impact but the fines for being caught remain derisory - £25. Perhaps it is time to really get tough with these anti-social and ignorant folk. Perhaps the only sanction that will really work is the ultimate one - destruction of the dog.

Road rage

It's just madness on the roads around Darlington at present. Yarm Road, Grange Road, Carmel Road and Haughton Road, almost every major route in an out of the town has been or is being dug up by one or more utility.

Drivers using Neasham Road have had to endure two sets of lights within a couple of hundred yards of each other which were, last weekend at any rate, totally out of synch.

Traffic could not clear from one set of lights without backing up to the second set. Result: virtual gridlock and one or two drivers almost coming to blows.

Shouldn't someone, somewhere have ultimate responsibility for co-ordinating these works.