WHEN we first moved to Etherley in 1979 it was a quiet rural village with light traffic, but nevertheless it had two public houses, a post office/ shop and a regular bus service.

Fast-forward to 2017 and we have seen a remarkable transformation – the pubs and the post office/ shop have closed and the bus service withdrawn.

By far the worst change, however, is that the traffic is no longer light nor is the village quiet.

Cars are strewn everywhere with the road now taking up to 4,000 vehicles a day, including fully loaded logging HGVs. During the summer the ambience is that of a small industrial estate with the ceaseless racket of electric gardening implements.

Now we have light pollution. The house opposite, under renovation for a decade, is festooned with security lights which illuminate my pillow at night. Further down is a business yard that has similar lights which light up the foot of my bed and the wardrobe. I expect to be issued with an orange jump suit and waterboarded at any moment.

Try to catch up sleep in the daytime, however, and you’re constantly disturbed by the delivery of internet shopping deliveries.

Still, I’m not one to grumble.

VJ Connor, Bishop Auckland