WHY on earth do hard pressed taxpayers have to pay a TV licence to subsidise boring presenters?

The BBC North-East news is pathetic, focusing on stories like wardens having to go without baths to nurse birds on Lindisfarne. Stupid idiots.

The sports presenters are boring on both TV and radio and the guy who commentates on Sunderland games on the radio is boring, boring, boring.

There is a bias towards Newcastle on football matters and Sunderland needs to get a commercial station to do commentaries on their matches instead of Radio Newcastle. The perfect example is that the football phone-in has ended while Sunderland has no manager and is hopefully getting new owners.

Would the phone-in be off-air if Newcastle United were in the same position? I think not.

The football phone-in is too politically correct and is purely focused on Tyne and Wear and not south Durham. Radio Newcastle needs reminding the River Wear has its source in the upland of County Durham where Sunderland have many supporters.

Robert Richardson, Bishop Auckland