ROYAL VISIT : You would think that a visit from Princess Anne would rate quite highly in the annals of Willington's recent history.

So why was it that details of this visit were kept from the good citizens of Willington?

Whose decision was it to suppress the information, and for what reason?

Apparently, the event was to be kept "low key". This resulted in fewer than 50 spectators (managed by at least 20 police personnel) and 100 guests, including a handful of children, watching the Princess Royal open the Jubilee Meadows project.

Many residents are angry and disappointed not to have been given the opportunity to see the Princess come to celebrate the completion of a major public improvement in their home town.

Surely the purpose of a Royal visit should be an uplifting and unifying one for any community and the decision not to make residents aware of the timing of the event would appear to be mean spirited and selfish.

The people of Willington deserve an explanation and an apology for having been treated in such a dismissive manner. - Farrer Johnson, Willington.

GEORGE BEST

GEORGE Best is still frustrating the opposition and lifting the hearts of millions of fans after his death.

Some, who can't quite understand why he is, and always will be, so widely revered as the high priest of soccer, are puzzled.

Some questions to BBC Points of View asked: "Why have you given so much news time during his last days in hospital and since to a man whose lifestyle has set such a bad example to youth?" and, "Is it right that he has taken precedence over terrorism, politics, royalty and religious leaders?"

The gist of the answers from the BBC was that world wide interest was so great there was no choice.

Maybe terrorists, politicians, royalty and religious leaders should take up soccer and acquire the magical skills which find so much respect with so many. - George Appleby, York.

SIKHS

HOW very sad to read of the quiet despair of the Sikh gentleman (HAS, Dec 5). Although we have the ignorant and the thugs, who judge only by skin colour, they are in the minority.

In my opinion the worst damage is done by the very dangerous politically correct brigade, who in their desperate effort to prove they are not prejudiced, prove exactly the opposite and do no-one any favours.

Their demands for changes in the Christian culture of this Christian country so we don't offend other cultures, mainly, it seems, the Muslims, encourage resentment instead of acceptance.

How dare they demand that Christians keep a low profile, that we play down our culture and heritage, that we must keep our heads below the parapet as if we should be ashamed of who we are.

These misguided, stupid people are responsible for much of the growing unrest and although I have never been in the slightest colour prejudiced, I am rapidly becoming culture prejudiced and this is solely down to PC attitudes. It is certainly not asked for or sought after by the majority of Muslims or Sikhs who, after all, chose to come here knowing our values.

Maybe it is time for other cultures to tell the PC very loudly to put up and shut up. They are "friends" we can do without. - S Harnby, Stockton-on-Tees.

MANNERS

CROSSING the road recently I was hit on the back of the head with a drink container.

The boys behind me blamed the girls behind them. The girls said: "Nowt to do wiv me missus." None inquired if I was all right. At Darlington Memorial Hospital I was diagnosed with concussion.

In three years I have suffered an attempted bag snatch, sweets thrown at me in the street and now this assault.

Darlington Borough Council is considering a school merger in the forlorn hope it will raise educational standards. Dare I suggest that if Eastbourne had a better record and reputation, Hurworth parents, teachers and governors would not be so against it.

If Tony Blair's children were in the state system would he be giving the same callous "nowt to do wiv me missus" message? All children's quality of education must be considered.

Eastbourne pupils need to be taught manners and respect, then Eastbourne might be the same great school I attended years ago. - Name and address supplied.

PARK AND RIDE

DURHAM City Park and Ride - not a fantastic launch. There are some issues.

The county council has hailed the £9m park and ride a huge success. It has failed to mention three major issues that arose on the day and will continue to be a problem for the residents of Durham.

The car parks are just too small. They failed to cope with demand and additional spaces had to be found. This lack of capacity, which was highlighted years ago in the planning stage, resulted in continuing gridlock at the entrances to town centre car parks. A situation that this scheme was supposed to cure.

The junction at the Belmont park and ride was originally closed several years ago after a series of accidents. It has been re-opened with additional accesses to the new car parks and with traffic lights. On the day of the opening these lights failed and drivers were forced to take their life in their hands as they attempted to gain access to the park and ride facilities.

The scheme has created another problem along the new bus lanes. Despite there being clear signage of the operating times of the lanes, drivers are failing to take notice. The result is that a large proportion of traffic is travelling in the outside lane, causing tailbacks.

Having seen the reports in the media, I felt the need to put the other side of the park and ride story as I believe that this is an inadequate way of dealing with the problem. - Steven Wilkinson, Durham.

ELIZA TINSLEY

WHILE I have every sympathy with the workforce at Eliza Tinsley at Evenwood (Echo, Nov 28), I feel it could have been covered differently.

For instance, the picture shows a seat with the place name on with some of the letters missing. Are you trying to perpetuate the 'it's grim up North' myth?

As for Evenwood Town 'upping sticks' as you so flippantly put it, that has had repercussions in another former mining community, for had it been done properly, with Evenwood resigning from the Northern League and reforming as Spennymoor Town in the Wearside League, then Easington would not have been relegated to the Northern Alliance.

The only thing I have against the people of Evenwood is that they did not give enough support to their team when it was needed.

Anyway, good luck to Evenwood White Swan and Evenwood Travellers, who I gather are using the Welfare Ground this season. - Tony Bills, Harrogate.