IN one of the most bizarre episodes in railway history, the station at Aycliffe was shut down just when it was needed the most.

The East Coast main train line runs right through there.

Newton Aycliffe has a station on the Bishop Auckland branch line but the mainline direct to Durham and Newcastle passes right by Newton Aycliffe with no access to it for local people.

What a great pity Tony Blair did not take matters in hand when he was the Prime Minister and MP for Sedgefield.

Young people today can scarcely afford driving lessons, let alone car insurance.

They need fast and efficient public transport to study opportunities and the jobs market in Durham, Newcastle, Northallerton, Thirsk and York.

Hurworth and Croft station was the first train station on the now vanished Richmond line, but is actually on the East Coast Main Line. Can we ask the parliamentary candidates for the Sedgefield and Richmond constituencies if they have any views at all on re-opening the station?

Nigel Boddy, Darlington.