YOUR article about the low rate of Invalid Care Allowance (ICA) - which is paid to those who look after others in need, like relatives who are frail, disabled or chronically ill - matches my own experience (Echo, July 7).

For example: very little support, no advice on applicable benefits, and you have to fight for everything.

There is a further unsavoury aspect to this issue which you did not mention. When a carer reaches the retirement age of 60 or 65, or is widowed, the Invalid Care Allowance will cease once a pension is paid.

But when caring for a son or daughter, the caring becomes more difficult as one grows older. Why is the recognition taken away when one reaches "a certain age"?

At retirement, or in similar circumstances, income will inevitably have fallen with the carer having to rely solely on a pension. Should we all cease to care with the loss of recognition?

After all, most of the pension will have been earned through contributions made during the working life of the carer or the carer's spouse. Why should they be penalised in this way? - Name and address supplied.

COUNCIL STRIKE

ON Wednesday, a minority of council staff were on strike over pay. The unions have put in a claim, which would, on average, cost an extra £80 in council tax for every household. I do not think residents want that.

Or nationally, 85,000 jobs would be lost. I don't think local council workers would want that.

Instead, employers have offered a three per cent rise, backdated to April. That would be put in peoples' pay packets immediately. A three per cent rise is affordable - it would mean no increase in council tax. It is also nearly three times the level of inflation. It is the national going rate for pay increases.

Employers think the offer is fair and reasonable. Over the coming period there will probably be some disruption to local services. But if we were to grant the unions their claim, the consequences would be more harmful. It is right for employers to stand firm on this issue. - Charles Nolda, Executive Director, Employers' Organisation for Local Government.

PEDESTRIANISATION

SINCE in most built-up areas, cars are constantly parked on the kerbs and the rest of the pavement is used for cycling, is it not time for the crown of the road to be fenced off and made safe for pedestrians? - E Reynolds, Wheatley Hill.

Darlington MARKET

IN his letter (HAS, July 9), F Wealand, on the one hand, congratulates Darlington council for its initiatives to improve the outdoor market and, on the other, he claims it is the council that has too many rules to prevent people livening up the market.

Mr Wealand cannot have it both ways.

The council has had a variety of different markets and, most recently, a most successful French market over a four-day period mixed with our existing Saturday and Monday markets. The increase in business was significant and the council will continue to encourage new traders and new types of business into our market square. - Councillor J Williams, Leader, Darlington Borough Council.

SEATON CAREW

ONCE one of the jewels of the North-East coast, poor old Seaton Carew is now decrepit and dejected.

I was extremely shocked and disappointed last week when I saw the heart-rending decline at first hand.

Hartlepool has had a large amount of money spent on it recently, so why not Seaton? Admittedly, it is very small, down-trodden and seedy, but come on councillors, don't just give up on it. Look at all the money that has gone into Redcar, although even there I am saddened by the state of the boating lake and the way the toilets nearby have been allowed to deteriorate. - Ken Jackson, Northallerton.

MUCK AND BRASS

THE old saying "where there's muck there's money" certainly seems to be borne out in the report on dung-fired power stations producing electricity for the National Grid (Echo, July 8).

Dung is something that will always be in plentiful supply and electricity always needed in this modern world. It sounds like a marriage made in the heavenly midden of someone's fertile imagination. - EA Moralee, Billingham.

FRUIT

IN the supermarket I am spoilt for choice in fruit and veg. This is good, but parts of Africa are really struggling after two years of drought.

I hope Western nations are planning a strategy to avoid a major crisis. A long-term project would be a water supply, perhaps through pipework.

Unfortunately, this would mean crossing borders in this war-torn country. Maybe I am being naive and there is no easy answer, but somebody has to do something. Any suggestions? Pop groups could have a concert? - F Atkinson, Shincliffe.

MOST working people have a dream. They buy premium bonds and Lottery tickets, small outlay, huge return.

They pay into a pension, state or otherwise, and save what they can so they will be able to afford the simple things in life.

But since Tony Blair and friends came into power what has happened to our dreams? In 1997, there were 28 pages of Premium Bond prizes on Ceefax. Now there are just seven.

Lottery jackpots are going down weekly. Pensions - well, judge for yourself.

The working people are the ones most affected by these things, not the people with money. - JD Brown, Bowburn.

ROD STEIGER

I ADMIRED the actor Rod Steiger who died recently (Echo, July 10). He spoke with clear diction and put his heart and soul into whatever part he was playing. He gave many fine performances in leading roles, but I always remember him for the relatively small part of villain Judd Fry in the musical Oklahoma. - LD Wilson, Guisborough.