THE Chief Constable of Cambridgeshire, Julie Spence, has said her force finds it difficult to cope with the huge influx of immigrants from Eastern Europe.

She was careful what she said, but I'm sure the people of Cambridgeshire are very unhappy with the situation which does not bode well for the future.

The economic ties to Europe are fine and a benefit to all, but the political expansion of the EU is a disaster and will get worse. I fear for the cohesion of society.

All immigration from Eastern Europe should be stopped forthwith unless it can be proved immigrants can support themselves, have something to offer our country and have a working knowledge of English.

There has been a subtle and quiet increase in votes for the BNP. Unless we get a grip of immigration they could well be elected to positions where they will impose their solutions to the problem.

Schools, hospitals, social services and police are going to need a huge increase in funds to cope and the money can only come from our tax, thereby increasing tensions already surfacing in our increasingly fraught society.

Our Government knows what needs to be done. Will it have the courage to do it?

Hugh Pender, Darlington.

IN his column, Ray Mallon quotes the ever popular idea that the health service would not function without immigrants (Echo, Sept 21). Ninety five per cent of people in the building trade are men. A large majority of nurses are women. To conclude from this that a particular industry could not function without immigrants, men or women, is nonsense. Women make perfectly good architects, plumbers, etc.

He also trots out the old argument about immigrants doing the jobs we won't. The first problem here is that immigrants quickly turn native and turn down menial jobs themselves.

How long does this continue for?

Until there is no standing room?

Second, healthy economies continually create new productive jobs and discard unproductive ones.

There is no reason to retain the latter, unless they are essential, in which case the wage should be raised.

Indeed, the latter happens automatically - unless there is a queue of immigrants willing to work for next to nothing. For example, bricks are laid very much the same way nowadays as 200 years ago. But the wage for this work has at least quadrupled.

Ralph Musgrave, Durham.

I HAVE raised with Liberal Democrat home affairs spokesman Nick Clegg what I consider should be done about immigration.

Spennymoor Lib Dems have discussed this and consider all immigration should be controlled to meet our needs. Where we have skill shortages, we need to train our own people to fill the gaps and not rely on immigration.

Britain is a small island and can barely cope with its present population. We already have a shortage of dentists and housing in many parts of the UK. Our infrastructure can barely cope with present demands. The picturesque countryside and space for wildlife habitat are disappearing and are becoming concrete jungles.

At least the Lib Dems discussed the issue at the party's annual conference in Brighton last week, although I do not agree with a suggested amnesty on illegal immigrants. As an island, we must protect our borders.

Councillor Ben Ord, Chairman, Spennymoor Liberal Democrats.