LEGAL SYSTEM: I THINK that the Prime Minister should stop all the reforms and modernisations he is carrying out at the moment and immediately start to reform the legal profession.

The people who are responsible for law and order in this country are completely out of control. They have turned down the parole application from Tony Martin, who, in the defence of his property from burglars and not knowing if they were armed or not, shot and killed one of them. They claim that he is a danger to other burglars.

Too much discretion is given to judges because the law does not indicate to them who the guilty person is when it comes to householders and burglars and a house is broken into by a burglar.

If laws were drafted in a black and white manner and were not drawn up with as many grey areas built into them to give the legal profession a very lucrative livelihood, we would not need as many of these judges whose judgements at times are beyond belief. - Peter Dolan, Newton Aycliffe.

IRAQ

GEORGE Bush has embarked on a senseless and vengeful "war on terror" which has so far involved unnecessary and illegal wars against two countries, leaving death, destruction, disease and trauma in their wake.

Tony Blair has stood "shoulder to shoulder" with him throughout. If this is exerting a "calming influence" (Echo, May 6), I can't imagine what encouragement would look like.

In a marvellous piece of Catch-22 logic, Lord Robertson has accused our Nato allies of undermining global peace and security by expressing their concern that Bush's warmongering might undermine global peace and security.

Similarly, Alan Benn (HAS, May7) accuses France of precipitating war against Iraq by opposing it. The fact is that Bush and Blair made it quite clear that they would like UN backing for their war, but were determined to invade Iraq regardless. - Pete Winstanley, Durham.

ELECTORAL REFORM

THE Government seems concerned that only 30 per cent of those entitled to vote in the local elections did so, and is now considering how to improve on those numbers, especially for the next General Election.

Postal voting and the Internet are considered, but no one yet has calculated the cost or worked out just how many extra voters will be encouraged to take advantage of the new arrangements.

Why don't the powers that be get the National Lottery to select the winners that week from all those who have voted in the election?

If implemented, there will be queues around the block of the polling stations and it will cost the taxpayer nothing.

It might even be cheaper than the other methods to encourage voters to the polling stations. - E Reynolds, Wheatley Hill.

STEEL INDUSTRY

I FEEL sorry for all the workers in the Corus steel plants who are to lose their jobs in our region. But our Labour Government has a lot to answer for.

Why did they let cheap steel from foreign firms be allowed in to our country?

How many of your readers know that the steel that is helping to build the new Wembley Stadium is being imported from Germany?

I will say once more, let's keep out of Europe, keep the pound, out with Tony and his puppet MPs and let's put right the untold damage they have done to our beautiful country. It is asking a lot, but it can be done.

One thing he has done right is to stick with America, our best friend. He should forget about his sole ambition to be head lad in Europe. He must know now that sensible people do not want to be governed from Europe. We want our freedom now. - Fred Wealands, Darlington.

BIRDLIFE

IS it any wonder we are losing many of our common bird species from the countryside. I say this having just seen the results of yet another hedgerow butchered by flail-mowing, this one right in the middle of the nesting season.

The term butchered couldn't be more appropriate, as anyone travelling past the recent reopened Barton quarry, near the A1 slip road would surely agree. - Harry Nelson, Richmond.

BATTLEFIELD PILGRIMAGES

EACH year the King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry Regimental Association Battlefield Research section organises pilgrimages to the battle areas of the First World War.

In August and then again in September, we plan to visit the battlefields of The Somme and the Ypres Salient, Vimy Ridge, Loos, Arras and Le Cateau, also any other area of the battlefield that might be requested.

The trips specialise in visiting specific cemeteries or memorials on request, and an experienced guide will accompany us, to commentate on the various Battles and events.

We can assist in the tracing of war graves, and wherever possible, we operate a grave or memorial photography service, for those people who are unable to travel.

The Battlefield Research Section was formed in 1990 by ex-servicemen, who have many years experience in conducting visits to the battlefield areas of France and Flanders, and we actively support a variety of ex-service charities and institutions. We welcome all inquiries.

Anyone interested and requiring further information should contact me. We ask for a medium-sized SAE for postal replies. - Joe Street, 7 West Grove, Royston, near Barnsley, South Yorkshire, S714RY.