FUEL TAX: THERE is no way that the haulage contractors would absorb the increase in the fuel tax - they would just pass it on to the customers.

If pensioners - who have to pay increased council tax and are unable to pass this on to anyone else - were to put a blockade on all the motorways, which would cost the haulage contractors thousands of pounds in lost income, would the haulage contractors drive their lorries through the blockade like they drove through the picket lines when the mineworkers were on strike?

In this country anyone can find thousands of poor old age pensioners, but I am unable to find any poor haulage contractors. - G Hall, Crook.

WHITE VANS

ONCE again a vulnerable pensioner has been duped out of thousands of pounds by unscrupulous bogus builders - complete with the now infamous white van.

These incidents are now so disturbingly common it is high time something was done about it.

Most people are aware that it is not only the fraudsters who use unmarked white vans, but also thieves, child molesters and paedophiles, who all need space for their infamous activities. Sadly, some of these innocent victims have been murdered.

Why are all owners of commercial vehicles - that too includes vans both large and small - not compelled to display their names or business names on their vehicles? - Margaret Zamir, Spennymoor.

AIRPORT COMPLAINT

ON Wednesday, August 31, I arrived at Durham Tees Valley Airport after a long and tiring journey from Australia.

I was met by my husband, son and granddaughters, aged one and four years. On leaving the arrival hall we were met by the most violent of thunder storms.

My son dashed off to collect his car with intention of meeting us at the door as none of us had a coat. When he returned he was not allowed to stop, not even for a moment, but was moved on.

He eventually managed to find an official who let him park about 100 yards away. We then had to run with two very frightened children through the storm. Needless to say, we were all soaked to the skin.

By this time the entrance of the arrivals lounge was already flooded and we had to move to the departure entrance. There were at least two people in wheelchairs and other people with children, all stranded.

I think it is about time the officials involved in running this airport stopped arguing about its name and thought of the people who use it by reinstating the drop-off and pick-up points and completing the resurfacing of the car park which is in a deplorable state.

If this was done and a canopy built over the entrance and exit of the airport, it would be much more passenger friendly.

May I also make a suggestion that a canopy is put over the entrance/exit in the car park and so prevent the problem that drivers have when trying to put wet tickets into the machines. - EA Burgess, Darlington.

JOB WOES

HOW much longer must the citizens of the North-East be patronised by the invitations in the press to apply for employment with local council bodies who give the impression that all applications are treated as equal.

Knowing as I do individuals at the higher levels of local government, I am assured that the vast majority of positions in council offices from north to south Durham, and no doubt beyond, advertised as 'open for all', are, in fact, already virtually spoken for.

Yet individuals are constantly invited to waste their time filling in application forms to no effect, the positions being already marked for someone else.

I applied for a vacancy that stipulated a minimum requirement of five O-Levels and was not offered an interview, whereas a friend, with no qualifications whatsoever, was.

Frankly, the situation stinks, and everyone is well aware that it exists. Perhaps it is time for an individual assessor to be invited to screen and appoint applicants for all local and regional authorities, rather than the current corruption be allowed to continue. - Name and address supplied.

SHANE WARNE

I THINK most cricket followers will agree with Comment (Echo, Sept 9) emphasising the need to recognise the outstanding achievements of Shane Warne.

Playing his last Test in this country, his record speaks for itself. No doubt at his peak there were times he was almost unplayable. But those who were privileged to see Hedley Verity at his best in the 1930s, who, when dying of his wounds received in Italy during the war, declared that he thought he had played his last innings for England, may find labelling Warne as history's great spin bowler debatable. - Douglas Punchard, Kirkbymoorside.

REGIONAL ASSEMBLY

I WROTE to the Yorkshire and Humber Regional Assembly and queried when I would be allowed to vote to get rid of it.

Today, I had a reply from them, telling me that they had just had consultation with John Prescott's office and because the North-East voted No to their assembly, the rest of the country would not now be allowed to vote.

Apparently, the North-East didn't give the right answer, which is probably why England isn't allowed its own Parliament, either.

Perhaps the continual underfunding of England and the flood of English taxes crossing the border into Scotland is a punishment.

New Labour sullied the memory of my working class ancestors by denying me my democratic rights and forcibly dividing my country into nine unwanted and unelected EU regions.

Labour is no friend of democracy and certainly no friend of England. - Della Petch, Driffield, East Yorkshire.

BUS SERVICE

I WRITE this letter in support of all the other aggrieved bus passengers who have written to you regarding the recent changes to the Arriva bus services.

I live in Chilton and, since the axing of the number 13 service, I now have to use the 723 service if I wish to travel to and from Darlington in the evenings or Sundays.

Not only is this an hourly service at these times, but it is also a very unreliable service.

Furthermore, on Mondays, Tuesday and Wednesdays, the last bus from Darlington to Chilton is 8.45pm. This is a disgrace as it means anyone without private transport or access to it cannot spend a social evening in Darlington in the early part of the week.

It would seem that Arriva has no concept of public service as it is quite prepared to operate a frequent service at times which will be profitable to the company and therefore in its interest, but not at times when it would be in the interest and to the benefit of their passengers.

In response to Arriva's spokesperson's invitation (Ms Esnouf HAS, Aug 24), I wrote to the company with my complaint and am currently awaiting a reply. - P Wilson, Chilton.