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THE Northern Echo has kindly given publicity to the Spennymoor Rosa Street School reunion. This was a totally worthwhile effort as it contributed to a hugely successful evening.

As we walked around the school the past pupils were able to see how the current pupils are enjoying their education just as we did, although in quite a different way. There were also lots of old photographs to remind us of our days within those walls.

The entertainment provided by both the current pupils and by a former pupil Lesley Wise was superb. The catering, too, could not have been better.

But way above all the other delights was the chance to see and chat with people we had not seen for 50 years or more. The number of times one heard the expression "Eeh, well I never" was too many to count. Heartfelt thanks to Arnie Stapleton, George Teesdale and the rest of the hardworking and enthusiastic committee who organised the get-together. - D Anderson, Washington.

FAITH

K REDHEAD (HAS, Oct 23) states that Christian religion is a faith, not a fact, and that logical thought is not involved.

Sadly this faith, rather than logical thought, can produce horrifying results. The inquisition was driven by people of faith, but the most hideous result of faith, the belief in spite of the evidence was the belief instigated by the main churches, in witchcraft. It is estimated that over a million women, children and disbelieving priests in Europe were tortured and murdered because people had faith in the teachings of the churches. Give me logical thought, the search for evidence, rather than blind faith, stated many times as belief in spite of the evidence to the contrary.

I AM puzzled by the John Young's assertion (HAS, Oct 23) that there is only one God.

Hindus believe that there are many Gods. Buddhists have no belief in a supernatural God.

Why then should his beliefs be accepted and all others be rejected? On what grounds can he make such a claim to know the truth about such matters? - Eric Gendle, Nunthorpe, Middlesbrough.

PROSTITUTION

I WRITE in reply to E Reynolds (HAS, Oct 20), and Stan Walinets (HAS, Oct 23), regarding the problem of prostitution in Middlesbrough.

How nice it must be to live in the backwaters of South West Durham which they inhabit, and take ill thought out pot shots at Cleveland Police, and their drive against the vice trade.

I'm sure Superintendent Strange does not have a moral crusade. He is acting within the boundaries of the law and in doing so, his vice unit has taken over 250 kerb crawlers to court, with the outcome that we have not seen them back in our neighbourhood since.

It is not a wild assertion that these men are a serious threat to the community. We have seen the murder of a young woman, abductions, rapes, robberies and, with a small number of under-age working girls, we have what amounts to child abuse.

I attended a recent residents' meeting and can inform your readers that we have had enough. Back the police and applaud their efforts and, together, let's rid Middlesbrough of this evil trade. As for Stan Walinets' regulated sex salons and tolerance zone, I suggest we put them in Barnard Castle. - Joe Wellthorpe Middlesbrough.

MY thoughts on prostitution are as follows. That which cannot be completely eliminated must be tolerated, but never actively condoned or encouraged in any way. - GH Grieveson, Richmond.

RAILWAYS

THE privatisation of our railways by the Tories put profits before safety, fat cats before paying customers and killed and maimed more people than ever before. Privatisation and all it stands for was never going to be for the public good, only for the money-grabbing shareholders and directors, which of course, has always been Tory policy. - JL Thompson, Crook.

IT is reported that contractors responsible for the line at Hatfield say that fewer track inspections on rural lines are essential so that those on main lines can be increased.

Little wonder the UK lost its manufacturing with this attitude. It is tunnel vision at worst. The contractors clearly need more staff.

Ultrasonic testing is not an alternative to visual inspections. BR used both and on a more frequent basis.

The effect on rural lines will be to reduce speeds and worsen the service. Users will decline and closures will follow. - EA Gibbons, Stoke on Trent.

BEGGING

ONE wonders if this Government's latest diktat: do not give money to beggars, has anything to do with the alarming rise in aggressive begging on our streets by so-called asylum seekers. Other people call this aggressive begging. I call it intimidation. - AE Pearce, Peterlee.

UNEMPLOYMENT

THE North-East was 2.6 per cent above the national average for unemployment in May 1997 when New Labour took power. It is now 3.9 per cent. This region has been loyal to Labour for generations. Now New Labour, feeling secure, has turned its back on us.

Loyalty cuts two ways. We should vote these people who have hijacked the socialist movement out of office at the next election. - Raymond Kelly, Chester-le-Street.