Sir, - You clearly did not research your details when writing your leading article ("Don't honk". D&S, Nov 15), perhaps deliberately to try to scare people, or are you running for political office of a blue hue?

You began by telling people that there was a limited number of Green Goddess fire engines to cover not only the urban areas but also the rural areas. What you failed to tell people is that apart from Northallerton and Richmond the country areas are covered by retained fire fighters who we are told by the media are largely not involved in the strike action.

No doubt farming families would be very pleased with £21,500 a year, but farming is what they choose to do knowing the likely income. I do not know what soldiers get, but again you were wrong about the national average wage, which is currently in the region of £23,000.

You wrote as if you begrudged the firemen their job security and pension arrangements, which is of course deferred wages and belongs to them. Their job is stressful and dangerous and they deserve these benefits.

A fire-fighter currently earning £21,000 with 25 years' service, compares with a police officer of similar rank and service who earns £28,900 plus £3,400 housing allowance.

A fire-fighter at a station like Northallerton will work up to 96 hours a week, during the day at the station, and carrying a bleeper at night with one minute's response time for those living close. The police officer will work a 37 hour week for his money.

At a shift station like Darlington they will work two 14-15 hour shifts consecutively, almost a week' s work in two days, and yes, I understand they do sleep after midnight on night duty provided they have not been called out, but they are there ready to answer any call.

The working practices you refer to and the changes that management want like using defibrillators are not resisted by all firemen. Some are very happy to learn to use this equipment because it helps them save lives. The resistance comes where it is suspected that they are being trained to substitute for ambulance crews.

Where did you get your ideas of non co-operation between brigades? Let me refer you to the stories your own paper has covered in the recent past. The gas depot blaze in Aiskew, the train crash at Great Heck near Selby, and most recently the fire at Vale of Mowbray in Leeming Bar, all those incidents were covered by numerous teams from various stations.

I would suggest readers should honk when they see fireman trying to look after themselves.

C D KIRK

Brompton,

Northallerton.

Great lead

Sir, - Congratulations on your leading article (D&S Nov 15), one of the best I have read in any publication for many years. May I suggest that an article detailing fire service pay, conditions and restrictive practices would be invaluable.

ALAN CROSSKILL

Doctors Lane,

Hutton Rudby.

Unjustified claim

Sir, - I am and will remain a staunch supporter of this Labour Government which has during the last six years brought inflation under control and brought about the lowest interest and mortgage rates for over 50 years, creating the world's fourth strongest economy.

It therefore grieves me to write a letter of this nature. Against the foregoing statement of facts, there is no way that any section of our society can justifiably seek an increase of 40pc in basic earnings and in my opinion, the Fire Brigade's Union leader, Mr Gilchrist is being irresponsible in the extreme.

At the time of writing, he appears to be prepared to moderate his demands but to what extent? My guess is that the end result will still be a figure beyond reasonable acceptability.

If any section of our society is worthy of a substantial improvement in income, then it is the state pensioner who has indeed lost out under the Tories and is still trailing the field.

The Government should beware, that the pensioner represents some 25pc of the electorate. The Fire Brigades Union should be aware that many workers, notably sub postmasters, will receive no increase in pay this year or probably next. Yes, of course, the firemen deserve just reward and this reward should take into account the special dangers involved in their duties, but whatever salary may be negotiated should surely also take into account the salaries of other emergency services employees.

The Government I support has not done itself or the rest of us, any favours in permitting the proliferation of "fat cats". It is hard to be too critical of any worker seeking a substantial rise, when executives in both the private and public sector, pay themselves just what they please.

It is also very hard to learn that incompetent management is all too often rewarded for its incompetence, with huge golden handshakes on the termination of their employment.

ALAN BENN

Burneston Village Stores,

Bedale.