MUCH justifiable gnashing of teeth at Yarm Town Council, after members heard about the state of play swings at The Meadowings.

The swings were minus a piece of equipment. Stockton Council had said it could not locate the item required to restore the swings and that it would therefore be better to remove them.

Coun Jake Dale hit the nail on the head when he said: "I am shocked that in an area which used to be the engineering powerhouse of the Empire, we can't find a small piece of equipment to mend a play item."

There must be some people out there who still know how to bash metal. Spectator does not know what the exact gizmo is, but surely someone can help Yarm council.

DIY vandalism?

LOCAL bobbies have issued an unusual piece of advice to crime-weary residents living in an area of Darlington - vandalise your property before vandals do it for you.

The weary sentiment expressed to fed up victims of shed and garage burglaries in the Haughton East area of Darlington was seen in this month's ward councillor's newsletter.

Beat officers are reported to have said: "If it isn't nailed down they'll steal it, so make your property unattractive to the thief. Mark it or scratch it, and if it is particularly recognisable take a photograph or video".

Clearly a case of getting the boot in first.

Lapel pins drawn

WHEN it comes to the common European currency, the opposing views of Tory Richmond town councillor David Johnson and his Liberal Democrat colleague John Harris are well known.

Neither, however, mentioned the subject during the proceedings of the full town council on Monday, nor during the half-time tea break. Their battle continued, nonetheless, as each sported a shiny new gilt lapel pin - Coun Johnson's in the shape of a £ sign and Coun Harris's the Euro emblem.

Same pocket

NO-ONE denies that we are likely to face a hike in our tax in April to fund improvements to the NHS. The Prime Minister was explaining as much on a television last week.

"We will find it out of general taxation because the alternatives, which are social insurance - a tax on wages, private health care, which mean you pay out of your pocket - are worse."

And where exactly does the Rt Hon Member for Sedgefield think the money comes from which provides "general taxation"?