HARRY MEAD is mistaken to imply that Thornaby was ever in the North Riding of Yorkshire (Echo, June 23).

Until the opening of the Mandale Cut, on September 18, 1810, the River Tees looped south from Stockton returning to its present course at Portrack.

Until recent times, Thornaby was always described as South Stockton and firmly in County Durham. Stockton Racecourse, now the site of Teesside Park leisure complex, having been on that land until its demise.

Tim Brown, Ferryhill.

IN a world beset with very serious problems such as desperate refugees and, at home, families struggling to make ends meet, it is ironic that some think that the most important issue is whether where they live is called Yorkshire or somewhere else.

I live in Billingham.

From the point of view of cricket I am still in County Durham.

In local government administration we were part of Durham County when I first came to live here. Since then I have been in Teesside, then Cleveland County and latterly in Stockton.

When I first came we were in the Sedgefield constituency and then Stockton and now Stockton North.

None of it has altered my fortunes. Gross inequality stubbornly remains and many don’t care provided they are alright themselves When I’ve been away to other parts of the world I queued to show my passport at the UK desk and now I am a European citizen. It doesn’t bother me that I am regarded as a subject of the Queen when I know in my heart I’m a citizen of the world.

We live in a world of appalling injustice and all that matters is I try to do the right thing in accordance with my conscience and if I have any judgement.

Any banners I hold have nothing to do with where I think I live.

G Bulmer, Billingham.