WHAT a brilliant move by the Government .

Despite public opinion and common sense, they are determined to re-privatise the East Coast Main Line so they hinted that it will go to a French-led consortium.

Then, when people have got well-and-truly wound up, they announce that it is, in fact, going to good old Virgin and Stagecoach.

Everyone sighs with relief: "Oh well that okay then, it's not too bad because the line isn't falling into French hands."

That one's straight out of Sir Humphrey Appleby's note book.

K Franey, Spennymoor.

I AM a firm believer that if something is not broke do not try to fix it.

That seemed to be the case with the Government running the East Coast Main Line service following the collapse of the previous franchise holder.

However that is now history and the good news, and well overdue, is that we will be getting direct links to Middlesbrough and Thornaby; which is the first piece of good news this area's infrastructure has had for a very long time.

Hopefully this will happen very soon so that we can make best use of it and fuel our connectivity and growth.

However, it is a bit rich that Stockton South MP James Wharton is trying to suggest that that was the plan all along.

In fact, the links are purely down to the companies trying for the franchise want to make their plan as appealing as possible and to tap into the volume of pent up demand in these towns that are not currently being served properly.

If it was the Government's intention why did it not do this years ago when the state took control?

Overall, a good day for Middlesbrough and the surrounding area which we need to embrace and move on.

Chris Gallacher, Ukip Prospective Parliamentary Candidate for Redcar.