I WATCHED George Gently on BBC 1 and found it extremely nostalgic. Set in the Sixties, and based in Durham City and the surrounding county, there were lots of familiar landmarks for someone like me who has lived in Durham City for almost 70 years.

My old school, Whinney Hill, featured as a police station.

The old county hospital, at the top of North Road, was again a hospital. I had my cartilage taken out there after a rugby injury 40 years ago and there was a lovely scene where George was fishing with a young lad off the bank next to my old canoe club opposite the cathedral.

There were views of a farm in the hills and a really old run down pig sty that looked original but I am sure the RSPCA would shut it down immediately.

I am sure if there were more coppers like George nowadays, and they were not too restricted, there would be less crime. He did in this episode have a couple of villains by the throat up against the wall.

Thank you BBC.

Malcolm Rolling, Durham.