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THE first Poppy Appeal of the new millennium has just been launched and the climax will be a special event at the Millennium Dome on Armistice Day, Saturday, November 11.

We all remember the sacrifices which were made, and are still being made, by our Armed Forces so that future generations are able to live in peace and freedom. The Royal British Legion was formed to care for their needs and for those of their dependants.

The appeal is the principle source of funds which directly support the legion's welfare and benevolent work. The calls upon the legion's services are getting greater with each year and the need for Poppy Appeal funds will continue and will grow. Last year the appeal raised over £18.7m. This year the British Legion is aiming to raise £20m which will enable it to fund the many schemes from which the service and ex-service community will benefit.

I urge your readers to support the Poppy Appeal this year as they have in the past, so that help can continue to be given to those who have given so much. - County Councillor Roy Wilson, Chairman of North Yorkshire County Council.

AS ARMISTICE Day approaches, may I remind your readers of the work of the War Research Society, the Battlefield Pilgrimage Tour Organisation, for which I am the local contact.

Since it was formed by a group of police officers, the Society has grown rapidly and is represented throughout Great Britain and in many countries abroad.

The number and scope of the tours is increasing and we now cover both world wars in France, Belgium, Holland, Germany and Italy; and, with the anniversary of the Boer War this year, we have ventured into Southern Africa where we will be visiting the Boer War sites as well as Rorkes Drift of the Zulu War.

Our team of couriers and guides includes lecturers with specialist knowledge of all the areas we visit. We can assist in tracing war graves and can carry out additional research if required. Tours are tailored to meet the wishes of those travelling and nowhere is too out of the way to visit. Financial help can be given in some cases and photographs can be taken for those unable to travel.

The War Research Society is entirely dedicated to remembrance of the courage and sacrifice of those who fought and, being a charitable organisation, it is able to support forces' charities, institutions and causes.

Further information and a tour brochure will be sent on receipt of an addressed A5 envelope and a 50p stamp. - Andrew Naden, The Lodge, Wensley, Leyburn DL8 4HN.

THE EURO

NOW that Tony Blair appears to have belatedly realised the craziness of the euro, wouldn't he be wise to call an immediate halt to the millions of pounds of taxpayers' money he is wasting on "preparing for the euro"?

In addition, wouldn't he do well to decline to sign the abominable Treaty of Nice in December and leave the EU altogether, thereby saving another £11m per annum to spend on the NHS, education, law and order and old age pensions?

By doing so he would have the next election in the bag.

Can anyone give us just one good reason why we should continue our membership of the EU? - Alan Rook, Newcastle.

BEGGING

AE PEARCE'S letter (HAS, Oct 27) implies the Government's concern is due to asylum seekers having the monopoly on street begging.

This is sensational bigotry fuelled by prejudice against an already oppressed minority. It is deplorable.

Asylum seekers are not allowed to beg or they are arrested. How often have you encountered foreign asylum seekers begging on the streets of Darlington?

In the main, people who seek asylum are intelligent people who are attempting to preserve their life by fleeing from dictatorships. Judaeo-Christian belief is to show kindness and hospitality to the stranger. It is unhelpful for AE Pearce to attempt to propagate personal prejudice against our fellow human beings who have already suffered and had to take the drastic measure of leaving their family and friends in order to find a place of safety.

To kick a dog when it is down is inhuman. What has happened to compassion and empathy? To try and gain currency for prejudice by measuring one injustice against another injustice is not rational. - A Pennell, address supplied.

WITCHCRAFT

AS A former Parliamentary candidate standing on a vigorous Christian Nationalist platform, I regard with some distaste the letter condemning the Inquisition's brave suppression of witchcraft in European society (HAS, October 27).

If The Northern Echo's correspondents cannot back up a dogged but heroic spiritual creed, or say that their medieval ancestors were fighting some pretty evil Satanists and were compelled to use torture, they are merely supporting the occult. - Andrew Lightfoot, Bridlington.

PARALYMPICS

CONGRATULATIONS to all in the GB Paralympic team. They have excelled themselves, winning so many medals.

Congratulations, too, to the BBC for showing daily coverage of the games and focusing on sports not usually seen on TV.

We have been privileged to share in all the thrills and emotions of the games. All the athletes have shown a tremendous attitude and so much skill. Watching the games must surely have made many viewers more aware of the abilities of our team and of disabled people in general. - EA Moralee, Billingham.

PETROL TAX

THE unfairly high level of motor fuel taxation provides the Government with an answer to the problem it has created. The unfairness can be resolved by completely abolishing Road Fund Licence fees, with the tax disc continuing for the life of the vehicle or length of ownership. This would create pay-as-you-use with obvious benefit to low earners, the elderly and rural communities. The Treasury looked at this some years ago and found it was viable to do so - more so now. - Councillor Tony Pelton, Chairman, Richmond and District SDP, Catterick.