VOTING in a "monkey" as mayor, did the people of Hartlepool not realise they were confirming the nation's prejudice that the town exists only as a blot on the back of beyond's nether region?

Probably most have more sense, and did not bother to vote and deny the daft minority its moment in the sun.

Either way, they reversed Darwin's theory that we evolved from monkeys not into them.

As a former editor of the Hartlepool Mail, now languishing in the soft south, land of designer labels and semblance not substance, it's not funny listening to a snide laugh and pub jokes about my old town.

"What's worse than a monkey-hanger? Monkey as a mayor of course."

All this may be quite unfair to mascot-man, who might well grow into the job ("cometh the hour, cometh the monkey").

After all, his salary is £53,000 and his budget is more than £100m - and that's not peanuts.

Hartlepool chose an anthropoid and is entitled to have one. But if Stuart Drummond climbs out of the monkey suit and attends meetings he will be guilty of gaining office through misrepresentation.

Hartlepool's done what it liked, and now has to like what it's done. The ideal of elected, properly paid and accountable town and city managers was an important advance for Britain and not a laughing matter. Until now. - Peter Chislett, West Sussex.

WHAT a brilliant front page picture of Ray Mallon (Echo, May 4). I laughed and laughed again. The photographer deserves an award.

Some might see the light above Ray's head as a halo rather than a crown. An old Chinese curse is "may you live in interesting times". How appropriate for Middlesbrough now and in the foreseeable future.

I look forward with bated breath to read the next exciting instalment in The Northern Echo - with pictures of course! - Stuart Hill, Darlington.

RETURNING from abroad on Friday, I was greeted with the news on the radio that Ray Mallon had been elected Mayor of Middlesbrough.

What a joke, I thought to myself, a former policeman who has admitted disciplinary offences, running a major North-East town for the next five years. The region will be a laughing stock.

When I arrived home and played back my telephone messages, I realised what had happened in my beloved Hartlepool. Ten messages and 39 e-mails from around the world confirmed my worst nightmare, H'Angus the Monkey had been elected Mayor.

Stuart Drummond is well-known in the town for his frolics as mascot for Hartlepool United Football Club, nicknamed the Monkey Hangers by their rivals.

What does that tell you about the people of Hartlepool, I pondered?

Brian Dinsdale, Hartlepool Council chief executive, said that the new mayor's colourful past had not made a mockery of the town. I do not agree.

Following this election, I am ashamed to say I live in Hartlepool. I have supported Hartlepool United since 1957. I have never supported the antics of H'Angus the Monkey although I accept his behaviour did appeal to some of the people who attended the games.

For years, the town's economic development committees and others have tried to improve this area's overall image, attracting new industry and investment, and building the marina and have generally tried to get rid of the Cinderella image it so often attracted.

The election of Stuart Drummed has destroyed years of hard work by many council officials and should be mourned, not celebrated. - Name and address supplied.

I CONGRATULATE Ray Mallon for his long, hard and wonderful campaign he undertook in becoming Middlesbrough's first directly-elected Mayor.

I hope Mr Mallon will keep his word and stick to his pledges for the benefit of the town and its people.

I also sincerely hope that he would take the needs of the disadvantaged groups into account. I believe some of the disadvantaged groups have had an absolute raw deal from the authority in the past and their rights have been denied. Particularly the black and ethnic minority communities and people with disabilities and their families and carers. - Zafar Uddin, Chair, Bangladesh Muslim Welfare Association.

DIANE PRETTY

I THINK most people will agree that the decision of the European Court in not allowing Diane Pretty to commit suicide was the correct one. Had they done otherwise, they would have set a dangerous precedent.

In spite of the dreadful condition she is in and in spite of the fact that she probably has little time left to live, it is to be hoped she may find some consolation, however slight, in being able to see how devoted her husband and carers are towards her well being.

For them, she is as vital and important as if she had been in perfect health.

The late BBC religious affairs correspondent Gerald Priestland maintained that to commit suicide was forcing God's hand. Be it so, who would want to be guilty of doing just that? - Douglas Punchard, Kirkbymoorside.

THE result of the refusal of the appeal by Diane Pretty to be able to end her life with the assistance of her husband has produced an illogical and inconsistent position as the law now stands.

Anyone can decide their life is not worth living and decide to end it if they are able to. If one is extremely ill, but able to end one's life, then one can.

If, however, assistance is needed, then assistance would be a criminal offence unless all that is required is that a machine be switched off.

Presumably, if Diane Pretty's condition becomes even worse and she needs mechanical assistance to survive, she can finally refuse treatment and be allowed her wish to die.

Surely it is not beyond the law to produce a system so that those who wish to end their lives are allowed to without pressurising those who do not wish it, to do so. - Eric Gendle, Middlesbrough.