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I WOULD like to thank George Reynolds for keeping his word and starting on the new Darlington Football Club stadium after a lot of criticism from so-called Darlington supporters and others, who said it will never happen. Also, I would like to mention the pitch at Feethams. What a change since the new drainage system. With all the rain we have had lately, it is still a good playing surface.

Once again, thank you Mr Reynolds. Keep up the good work. - Mike Sinclair, Darlington

BSE

A COMPREHENSIVE report on the BSE disaster has been completed and will very soon be published. The gist of this report has been leaked and we may expect it to be highly critical of the last Conservative government.

The cost of this tragedy in monetary terms is upwards of £4bn and will continue to rise. For this expenditure, the bulk of which has dropped into the lap of the New Labour Government, we could have had half a dozen Millennium Domes or perhaps a substantial reduction in fuel costs or several sports stadiums.

The cost of this tragedy in human terms cannot be measured, but I am certain that the unfortunate victims and their perhaps more unfortunate next of kin would much prefer to have had one or two more Millennium Domes to visit.

I would like to think that before the unholy alliance of the hauliers and the farmers reconvene to add further to the costs of running this country and causing pointless misery to the rest of us, they will spare a little thought to my earlier comments. - Alan Benn, Bedale.

CEMETERIES

WITH reference to cemetery security in Darlington (Echo, Oct 11), I expressed my concern when the change was quietly introduced at North Cemetery. Lack of resources was the reason given for not locking gates. Twenty-four hour mobile patrols sound fine, but one van covering all cemeteries and parks does not. - Dennis Harrison, Darlington.

LABOUR POLICIES

I KEEP reading of Hugh Pender's hatred of the Tories. Is it not possible to request that Tony Blair calls a referendum on the euro and Europe now and let the sensible people have a vote to put the great back into Britain?

I forecast that a lot of Tony's MPs will be out of work after it but at least it will let Mr Pender go to sleep at night instead of worrying about Tony getting the bullet later on at the next election.

Mr Pender should know by now that our friends are in America not Europe, as future events will prove. - FG Wealands, Darlington.

BATTLE OF BRITAIN

IN his letter (HAS, Oct 10) E Reynolds rightly endorses the heroic achievements of Bomber Command. As he states, taking to the skies nightly knowing the odds of returning were lengthening, meant the Germans keeping a huge array of men and machines to defend the homeland, thus having a major impact on conflicts elsewhere.

The courage of Bomber Command never wavered, even after the disastrous Nuremburg raid when they knew a forecast of clear skies with a full moon would give the German fighters a daylight advantage.

One of their greatest achievements rarely mentioned was managing to drop a few bombs on Berlin during the Battle of Britain.

It so infuriated Hitler that he ordered Goering to switch from blitzkrieging our fighter airfields to attacking the cities. That move enabled Fighter Command to recover from almost inevitable defeat and cost Hitler the Battle of Britain. - Douglas Punchard, Kirkbymoorside.

SPEED LIMITS

I NOTE the criticism of speeding traffic through Middlestone village (Echo, Oct 14) and the residents' concern at the number of accidents.

I am not from Middlestone, but have fond memories of the area having been brought up in Kirk Merrington. To hear that the speed limit through Middlestone is 60mph has left me both astonished and angry.

I suggest that the residents mount a massive campaign and do not rest until action is taken. - G Carr, Darlington.

CIGARETTES

THE proposal currently before the European Union to ban the sale of high tar cigarettes, many of which are manufactured in Darlington, is not simply a threat to British jobs, it is also an attack upon the consumer because it takes away from smokers the right to choose from a wide range of products.

Adults are fully aware of the potential health risks involved. Unfortunately, the anti-smoker industry is fundamentally opposed to freedom of choice. Where will the paternalists strike next? A ban on fast cars and fatty foods?

Once again individual liberty is being eroded and British jobs are being lost because of political correctness at home and in Brussels. - Martin Bell, FOREST, Voice and Friend of the Smoker, London.

MENINGITIS

TWO years ago my daughter Lucy was struck down by meningitis and I was brought face to face with the terrifying nature of this disease. Thankfully, after six agonising weeks, Lucy began to recover, and is now in very good health.

But we were lucky, one in ten people die from meningococcal disease, and many others are left with a permanent disability; such as deafness or loss of limbs.

As President of the National Meningitis Trust, I would like to invite your readers to help fight meningitis by contributing to the organisation through BT Friends & Family Charities.

If you are an existing customer of BT Friends & Family you can donate the discount off your next bill to help the National Meningitis Trust, Marie Curie Cancer Care and The Stroke Association.

BT has pledged to match donations up to £1m. Simply call Freefone 0800 400 450. Lines are open from 9am to 11pm Monday to Friday and 10am to 6pm on Saturdays, from now until December 31.

This scheme will give a huge boost to the work of the National Meningitis Trust in finding effective vaccines and treatments, raising awareness and supporting people whose lives have been devastated by meningitis.

Please call Freefone 0800 400 450 today. Thank you. - Andrew Harvey, Broadcaster, President National Meningitis Trust.