FOOTPATHS

ALASDAIR Mitchell of Stocksfield claims 90 per cent of England's footpaths are open (HAS, Aug 21). I'd like to know where he got that figure from because it's certainly not true of round here.

I also want to tell him that if anyone is whingeing, it's not Harry Mead, it's him; whingeing about certain restrictions (totally inadequate ones, in fact) placed on shooters.

As for his insinuation that footpath walkers are over-privileged, let me tell him we pay taxes like anybody else and, given the frequent and damage to footpaths by private landowners, get very poor value for our money. - Tony Kelly, Crook.

DIANE PRETTY

I FEEL very sad for Mr and Mrs Pretty. We know it says in the Bible you shall not kill, but if my dog was in pain and could not be helped, I would have it put down by a painless injection by a vet.

So why can't a human being be treated the same?

Diane has asked for mercy, she should be given it. Diane is in pain. Her husband is hurting as well having to see her suffering. - Mrs D Moore, Newton Aycliffe.

CROP CIRCLES

LET'S forget this quaint notion that crop circles are the work of little green men from outer space. Paranormalists, ufologists and other circle believers say humans could not possibly be making them.

Perhaps I am a hard-bitten old realist, but how many people have gazed at a Turner painting, a Faberg egg or a Michelangelo ceiling and gone off thinking that no man on earth could have created them? - Aled Jones, Bridlington.

EDUCATION

ILLITERACY among youngsters in 2001 is higher than before the First World War, says a study by the University of Ulster (Echo, Aug 18).

Few will be surprised to hear this.

With all the peculiarities of English spelling, there is only one sure way to learn and that is by memorising. Since such rote learning has been frowned on for many years, small wonder that so many youngsters can't spell.

As the article points out, the craze for text messages with their own version of spelling is doing nothing to improve the situation.

Hopefully, the literacy hours now introduced in schools and the return to more basic, tried and tested methods being adopted in the classrooms, will ensure better results will be evident in years to come. - EA Moralee, Billingham.

YOUR editorial and front page (Echo, Aug 24) reports on educational standards and the demand for a commission would be a good idea if it is an independent report, and not the usual whitewash.

But at the end of it all what good will it do?

You suggest the students of today are more intelligent but that is a matter of opinion.

A retired examiner states certain facts. If his information is correct, then examinations are becoming, in some instances, a lot easier.

One teacher asserts exams are different, not easier, whatever that means.

We can only compare the success of our education with our success against the rest of our competitors. I am not talking of wealth but our ability to make our own goods and sell them to the rest of the world.

At the moment our own industry is in decline and all we seem to be doing is relying on foreign investment - that is not the best option for the future.

There is not much point giving our students a certificate if there is no job and future to back it up. - John Young, Crook.

TORY PARTY

IT is gratifying to see my recent contributions have prompted a response from disillusioned Tories.

If Kenneth Clarke wins the leadership battle, we might see the Tory Party shed its right-wing image and move into the 21st Century and forget all about lost Empire and dislike for anything European.

Unfortunately, even if Mr Clarke wins, the Tory right will try every dirty trick so well known to them to hound him out of office.

If Iain Duncan Smith wins, then the Tory Party will be rent asunder by internal strife. A pleasing scenario for the Labour Party and the Liberal Democrats.

The Labour Party, now basking in the glory of two magnificent election victories, must try and convince the old diehard socialists that times have changed, but their support is still valued.

The working man and woman have had a taste of the good life and they will not give it up to outdated ideology.

We are surviving this mini recession better than most due to the shrewd fiscal policies pursued by Tony Blair and Gordon Brown.

European leaders now look to Mr Blair and the UK for leadership and, for the sake of our country, we should take up the challenge. - Hugh Pender, Darlington.

CRICKET

THANK you Peter Mullen for the memories (Echo, Aug 28). I too was at the Yorkshire v Nottinghamshire cricket match at Scarborough in 1955.

My two companions and I travelled by rail from Brotton to Scarborough. I well remember the Fred Trueman hat-trick as we had an excellent view with seats in the stand behind the bowlers' area.

At the end of the day while waiting for our train home, I said to an older friend of mine: "Well, today we saw Trueman get a hat-trick."

My friend, who had watched cricket for years, replied: "Aye, and that's all he did get." - LD Wilson, Guisborough.

JOBS

IN reply to the letter (HAS, Aug 23) from Jon Barron, surely in a world motivated by greed and fear, no firm would dispose of virtually cost-free computerised ansafones in favour of keeping staff on at approximately £10,000 a year. What sort of economy is that?

I am afraid to say that, in a recession, the staff will be the first to go - sad fact but true.

I await more automation not less. - Gwendoline Lamb, Marton, Middlesbrough.