THERE has been a big response to last week’s column about the decision by Middlesbrough primary school heads to stop giving names of children to newspaper photographers who turn up to cover all kinds of events and achievements.

It has sparked a national debate about whether the Middlesbrough heads are right in their objective of keeping youngsters safe from paedophiles, or are guilty of a politically correct over-reaction.

In my view, it is the latter but at least the issue is being aired. That in itself is progress because one of my concerns was that the heads took the decision without any consultation with the editors they expect to cover their press-calls.

What’s more, it has become increasingly clear that the decision has been taken without any consultation with parents. I remain convinced that the vast majority of parents like to see their children’s names and pictures published in local papers when they are involved in something positive.

Of course we have to be wary of danger.

But we have to keep it in perspective.

Take terrorism as an example. Successive prime ministers have urged us to be on the alert but they have also stressed that terrorists will have won if we allow them to change the principles by which we live our lives.

We should take sensible steps to guard against paedophiles too – but not allow them to force us into stopping an age-old newspaper tradition which is a source of pride and encouragement to youngsters in every community in Britain.

IT’S not often I feel inclined to disagree with Harry Mead, our veteran columnist, who is so full of fresh country air, common sense and poetic references.

But I have to take issue with Harry over last week’s observations on the forthcoming stone skimming championship in Wales.

Artificial stones, pressed into shape from grit, are to be used for the first time and Harry suggests that the levelling of competitors’ chances should “surely bring this great sport into the London Olympics”.

He’s got it wrong for once. This is not a sporting development to be encouraged.

Part of the skill and joy of stone skimming is scanning the beaches and river beds for hours in search of the perfect stone.

Being able to spot a stone which can be made to leap ten times across the water is surely integral to what I agree is a truly great sport.

It may be too late to squeeze it in to the Olympic schedule but perhaps there’s scope for the inaugural Northern Echo Stone Skimming Championships.

I can see it now: a sun-kissed stretch of water, somewhere near a pub. Three stones each, may the best man win.

IHAD a vomiting bug at the start of last week – and reading the pathetic rantings of footballer Joey Barton made me throw up even more.

Having lashed out violently at his opponents in front of millions of viewers, the QPR and ex-Newcastle player should have kept his mouth shut and crawled into a hole with embarrassment.

Instead, he went on Twitter to describe Gary Lineker as an “odious toad” and call Alan Shearer something which even the redtop tabloids weren’t able to print.

I’ve decided to stop following Joey Barton.

It’s too dangerous – you never know when you might get an elbow in the face.