ASYLUM SEEKERS: What rubbish from T Atkin (HAS, Sept 8). The people of Leicester and London are not "outnumbered by foreigners".

Overall, about ten per cent of the UK population consists of ethnic minorities, by far the largest single group being of Irish origin. In London, ethnic minorities constitute about 35 per cent, 25 per cent being black or Asian.

However, few are foreigners, and only a tiny minority are asylum seekers or illegal immigrants. The overwhelming majority are British, born and bred, while others are legal immigrants.

There are not enough refugees in the entire world to outnumber the British, and less than one per cent are granted asylum in the UK. - Pete Winstanley, Durham.

TRANSPORT

I HAVE just arrived back from a week in Altea, near Benidorm.

The rail journey from Altea to Alicante, about one-and-a-half hours, cost 1.90 euros, about £1.20.

I arrived back in Newcastle, caught the Metro to the Central Station for £2.

In Benidorm it is the same with the buses: one flat fare of 85 cents whether you travel one stop or 20.

No wonder so many people here use cars. - Roy Tatman, Darlington.

DARLINGTON FC

AS a long time supporter of Darlington FC, I find it extremely concerning that George Reynolds has severed links with the Darlington Supporters Trust.

This is a body that was set up by the Government to help clubs and fans work together and help everyone associated with football.

In my opinion, the Trust had every right to ask for certain information regarding the future of our football club. There have been many rumours over the past months regarding the financial state of Darlington FC. These rumours have always been denied by Mr Reynolds. Why is it then that Mr Reynolds is not willing to let the Trust have the assurances over the state of the club.

He is the one who stated that anyone could come in and see the books at any time.

The Trust is there to help, but if he refuses this help he is being very stubborn. All the fans want is a successful club with a successful stadium. - David Taylor, Darlington.

IRAQ

HUGH Pender has commented on several occasions about Iraq. His latest remarks claim hundreds of Iraqi children were mutilated and killed by British and American bombs.

He fails to mention, however, the hundreds and thousands of Iraqi and Kurdish people mutilated, tortured and murdered by Saddam Hussein and his two sons.

The evidence of these atrocities include the torture chambers, people having their ears cut for speaking out about Saddam, football players being tortured for losing games, and also the mass graves that uncovered thousands of Iraqis murdered by this evil dictator.

His people lived in poverty while he lived in luxury. If he had been allowed to continue in power the suppression and atrocities against his people would have continued for years to come. - Neil Robinson, Coxhoe.

FUR TRADE

WE fully support MEP Martin Callanan's call for a ban on the cruel trade in dog and cat fur (Echo, Sept 25) a trade which the Government has described as 'abhorrent'.

Each year some two million cats and dogs are killed in the Far East and their skins enter the international fur trade.

As things stand there is nothing stopping items made with this fur from being sold in the UK and since the US has now banned the trade, it is likely that more of these products will enter EU countries, including Britain.

The recent Government announcements that it would consider banning the trade if evidence of its extent could be provided was welcomed and signals a breakthrough in the campaign.

Because cat and dog fur is routinely dyed and passed off by importers as other types of fur, providing this evidence may prove difficult. Consumers may inadvertently be supporting a cruel and gruesome trade.

But by not buying any item of fur you can be sure that you are also not buying dog or cat fur. - Richard de Ville, Research and Campaigns Officer, Respect for Animals.

COUNCIL ALLOWANCES

I REFER to the recent announcements of the high 'wage' increases awarded to councillors of various local authorities.

The local authorities are central to the partnership of community groups in improving the environment and living conditions of the residents they represent.

Can I ask if the other community groups of the partnership were consulted on the increases in councillors' pay, with an explanation given of how the additional costs would be met? - Alan Kelly, Ferryhill.