THE BBC are repeating the classic 1970s stop-motion animated children's tv series The Clangers .

But when I tuned in,all I got was the Tory party conference.

I was fully expecting to see a bunch of puppets living on another planet, speaking a language no-one can understand.

But wait a minute, in the Tory party conference that's exactly what I got.

Instead of enjoying the adventures of the furry Clanger clan Granny Clanger, Baby Clanger and Small Clanger I had to make do with a load of old Etonians playing Major Clanger.

In the TV series the title Clanger is said to derive from the sound made by opening the metal cover of the creatures'

crater-like burrow.

At a Tory party conference clanger takes on a more familiar meaning: a blunder and a botch job. And oh boy they didn't disappoint in the clanging stakes.

I noticed there wasn't a single mention helping the low-waged rendering their "Making work pay" motto useless.

In true Tory style chipping away at the poor was the order of the day: freezing of tax credits,child benefit,income support,job seekers allowance,employment and support allowance.

To me,this was the final nail in the dreaded Tory coffin.

Stephen Dixon, Redcar.