WHILE Britain's European trade is growing reasonably strongly compared to the eurozone countries, our trade with the rest of the world is growing faster.

New OECD figures show that over the three years since the launch of the euro, Britain's exports to the rest of the world have increased by 26.5 per cent compared to an increase of 23.5 percent to the eurozone. On average euro members' exports to the rest of the eurozone grew only 19 per cent over the same period.

Pro-euro campaigners have argued misleadingly that joining the euro would help British exporters. However, all of the supposed benefits of the euro for exporters have to be set against the cost to exporters themselves in terms of increased domestic instability.

A study by Oxford Economic Forecasting in April 2002 shows that the UK would be likely to experience greater volatility of output, inflation and unemployment in the eurozone. This increased domestic instability would harm exporters along with the rest of the economy.

Furthermore, research consistently demonstrates that the proportion of UK trade done with the eurozone has topped out, having reached its peak in 1992. The euro lobby claims that enlargement of the eurozone will counteract this trend.

However, even if the proposed 12 central eastern European countries join the euro, these countries combined account for only two percent of UK trade, so enlargement is unlikely to reverse this trend.

Given this evidence, we cannot justify risking Britain's trade success on a political experiment called the euro. We currently have the best of both worlds - we are in Europe but thanks to having control over our economy we are able to continue to increase our trade with the eurozone and the rest of the world. - John Elliott, Chairman Business for Sterling North East.

ANIMAL WELFARE

ANIMAL lovers all over the country will be sad to hear that, after the break due to foot-and-mouth, the live export of animals for slaughter has started up again.

In the early hours of July 15, nearly 2,500 lambs were exported from Dover.

It had been hoped British farmers (who have had so much help from the taxpayer) would not succumb to the temptation of an extra £3 a head on this season's lambs - many only two to three-months-old.

But these lambs, after hours of travelling in shocking conditions via Holland to Italy, France or Spain, will now have been slaughtered in the most inhumane conditions. - OA Parker, Billingham.

MINING MUSEUM

IT was sad to read of the unfortunate closure of the Durham Mining Museum display (Echo, Aug 7).

However your readers will be interested to know that there is an excellent website that contains a veritable "mine" of information on the coal industry in the Durham area.

There are maps, information on individual collieries, some long gone, others more recent, photographs, historical data, info on accidents and disasters and all kinds of other records to interest those involved in local history to any degree, ie not just the coal industry .

The website can be found at www.dmm.org.uk - Harry Watson, Darlington.

IRAQ

F WEALAND (HAS, Aug 2) makes the odd claim that: "Iraq possesses the biggest chemical weapons in the world".

This is a myth. Scott Ritter, the former UN chief weapons inspector in Iraq, states that 90-95 per cent of the weapons capability of Iraq has been put verifiably beyond use.

Of the nuclear threat that Iraq once had, the International Atomic Energy Authority has confirmed that Iraq's nuclear weapons programme has been eliminated "efficiently and effectively". So where is the threat?

Support for war is support for the brutalisation of a population that has already suffered for long years under the twin cruelties of Saddam Hussein and the sanctions regime.

Gulf War 2 would involve the use of heavy bombing, in which thousands of civilians would die as they did in the first Gulf War, when 250,000 Iraqis died. We can't stand idly by and let our leaders commit murder. - Dean Clementson, Darlington.

RIVERSIDE GROUND

I WAS delighted to read Phil Donegan's feature on Durham County Cricket Club and the praise given to the excellent facilities and services provided for disabled members and visitors (Echo, Aug 6).

We were very pleased that Phil came and enjoyed himself so much.

I would, however, like to point out that the disabled parking areas outside the ground and the failure to provide adequate signage for them is the responsibility of Chester-le-Street District Council.

We estimate that there are at least 500 members with some form of disability, with 80 who currently qualify for the permit scheme designed to allow those with serious mobility problems to park inside the ground. We also have two wheelchairs, one fully mechanised with dual control.

The club prides itself on the services offered to people with all kinds of disability and anyone who has not been before and would like to enjoy a day at the cricket and needs help should contact Ellen Johnson on 0191 - 387 1717, ex. 2840. - John Severs, Voluntary Liaison Officer for Members with Disabilities, Durham County Cricket Club.