AS a regular visitor to Darlington I see Gurkha servicemen shopping for their needs before being posted overseas. They can always be recognised in their blazers with white shirt and regiment tie.

Always quiet and very polite.

I consider that I owe my life to former members of this regiment and it is with deep dismay that I read of the treatment by this Government with regard to pensions for ex-servicemen.

To my knowledge, no other branch of our servicemen are treated in this sub-standard way. I have never in my whole life heard a wrong word spoken about the conduct of this fine regiment.

The regiment has a long history of fighting and giving their lives for this country and they deserve the same treatment and pension as any other service personnel on retirement.

Ray Vincent, Darlington