HANNAH APPEAL

WITH Christmas in danger of being totally commercialised, it was heart-warming to see the Hannah Appeal fund being oversubscribed in record time (Echo, Dec 22).

But I find it difficult to fathom how a perfectly healthy person eager to enter into a chosen profession can receive assistance from the NHS to have their limbs stretched when for a deserving case like Hannah's they could contribute nothing.

One may well ask where do priorities lie? - Douglas Punchard, Kirkbymoorside.

PUNISHMENT

THE scheme to make teenage criminals face their victims (Echo, Nov 26) is very sensible. They should not only be made to face up to those they have wronged, but should also have to recompense them. Working off a sentence in service to the victim would be far more of a lesson than just locking the young criminal away. - EA Moralee, Billingham.

WARM HOMES

THIS week marks the end of Warm Homes Week, the fuel poverty awareness campaign from national energy charity NEA. The campaign highlights the problems of over six million UK households, most on low incomes, who face the prospect of another winter living in cold, damp homes. During the course of the week, over 70 MPs have visited constituents to find out how they are coping in this winter's cold weather.

The visits also provide an opportunity to MPs to see at first hand the benefits that energy efficiency brings to these same people. The New Home Energy Efficiency Scheme (New HEES), the Government energy efficiency grant scheme, offers help to many poor and vulnerable households when fuel bills are too high and temperatures inside are too low.

Such help is sorely needed. According to Office of National Statistics figures, an average 30,000 people die of cold-related illnesses every year. In 1989-1999, there were 99 such "excess winter deaths" in Darlington.

As winter sets in, the message of Warm Homes Week continues. Throughout the winter, I urge people to do what they can in their local communities to tackle fuel poverty: contact the Winter Warmth Line on freephone 088 085 7000 for any friends, neighbours and family members who may be at risk during cold weather. For eligible low-income households that may be looking at another season of cold-weather misery, a phone call to the new HEES inquiry line (freephone 0800 952 0600) could be the first step towards affordable warmth, better health and peace of mind. - William Gillis, Acting Director, NEA.

NICE SUMMIT

CHRIS Lloyd's profile on the Nice Summit (Echo, Dec 7), illustrates a dilemma that is like a blind man going through a dark tunnel. It would not matter if he could open his eyes, he still would not see. Can a larger union work when it seems the union at the moment does not work on many issues?

I disagree that Britain at some time in the near future must join the euro and, whether we like it or not, the British way of life must change because to suggest anything else is being nave or blind to the reality of what is going on.

On the issue of the Rapid Reaction Force, it is a non starter. Why undermine Nato, which has proved its worth, and which will be like a toothless tiger without the Americans, unless we are prepared to spend a lot more money on defence and manpower?

And for Mr Hague and his party, I think the Nice summit has more chance of 100 per cent success than he has of becoming the next Prime Minister. It is time to change the needle Mr Hague.

When people decide whether the union is a plus or minus they should understand that we are no longer the country of influence we once were and that the 20th Century and its carnage must never happen again. That is why the European Union for all its faults, must succeed. - J Young, Crook.

LOST RELATIVES

I RUN a helpline called Searching for a Memory to assist people who are searching for missing friends and relatives.

I am looking for John A Lowery who was born around 1930-35 and was brought up by nuns in a care home/orphanage in Spennymoor, County Durham, during the Second World War. He later joined the army and after that worked with the Customs and Excise.

If he or anyone who knows of him could they please contact me on (01407) 761463 or write to the address below. I wish to assure readers of confidentiality at all times. Thanking you in anticipation. - Gill Whitley, 88 Tan-Yr-Efail, Hollyhead, Anglesey, LL65 2SD.

LOST GIRLS

AS A former pupil of Northallerton Grammar School, I was surprised and delighted that you had published an old photograph of my school friends as part of the feature on Mick Riordan's new book on the school's history (Echo, Dec 8).

I am wondering if it would be possible through your newspaper to try to contact two of the girls in the picture as I have lost touch with them.

The names of the girls in the photograph are: standing, left to right, Jeannette Goonan (now living in Middlesbrough); Jean Clark (that's me, now living in Chester). Front row, left to right: Josephine Douglas (whereabouts not known); Joy Simpson (now living near Masham); Valerie Cappleman, (now living in Scarborough) and Dorothy Bainbridge (whereabouts not known).

So we are searching for Dorothy and Jo. Dorothy lived at The Central Dairy, Osmotherley, but after her marriage to a man called Tony Bulmer she moved to Salutation Road, Darlington. And there the trail goes cold. She had a brother called Howard. - Jean Robinson, 22 Tarporley Road, Tarvin, Chester, CH3 8ER.