CONGRATULATIONS to Tony Kelly for his letter describing the Angel of the North – above – as an unsightly heap of junk (HAS, July 3).

For me, he has hit the nail on the head. Every time I travel north to Newcastle by train I always have to avert my eyes until I know I have safely passed the dreadful “Angel”.

I was angered at the idea of Gateshead Council chopping down trees that have grown in front of this junk (Echo, June 28). It should leave things as they are – or better still, plant more trees.

S Thomas, Darlington.

THERE is a lot of argument as to the beauty of the Angel of the North, but one question that never seems to be asked is how were they allowed to put it where it is in the first place?

If someone selling eggs put up a 2ft square board, they would be told to take it down as it distracted drivers. How many fender-benders have been caused by people looking at the Angel and not watching the road?

Harry Manuel, Hexham, Northumberland.