I RECENTLY came across an article about sham marriages that some immigrants seem to be getting into for their own benefits. But it's nothing new.

I used to work on the road gangs laying cables on building sites in Birmingham in the 1960s - one of the few who wasn't Irish. A man called Lynch said to me one day: "Ginger, (even though I'm not and never was) 'Tis a shame you can't be doing what we do." He'd come over here and registered at an employment exchange, telling them he'd never done that before as he came from a remote area of southern Ireland and knew nothing about such things.

When I pointed out he was now working he admitted being on the fiddle and that he was also registered at two other places under different names.

After that, it was easier to understand the bait cabin talk where not one of them would bet less than £20 on a horse.

So you see, the system has been played for longer than some of these young chaps in government know. It doesn't matter how smart they think they are, there are people out here who are much smarter. I wish I'd been born devious.

John Reynolds, Eldon, Co Durham.