EUROPE: THE pro-euro brigade really needs to change tactics if they want to persuade people to believe them.

Saying that if we don't join the euro it will mean thousands of lost jobs (Echo, Jan 31) is so old hat and has already proved to be rubbish.

If being in the eurozone is so wonderful, surely by now we should have headlines proclaiming the huge number of jobs created and the enormous profits made by companies in France, Germany and other euro states. The opposite is the truth.

The only constant positive comments seem to be from holidaymakers who don't have to change their currency when travelling between countries. Big deal.

Keep the pound. We don't need the euro. - EA Moralee, Billingham.

AN ARTICLE appeared (Echo, Jan 31) which was seriously misleading, due to fundamental omissions and a one-sided perspective.

Under the heading, Join euro or lose 7,000 jobs, you reported the scaremongering comments of Paul Barron of Alston.

Mr Barron was appearing before a Commons Select Committee, as were Ruth Lea of the Institute of Directors and Martin Taylor, chairman of WH Smith. Your report neglected to mention the presence of these two eminent people and their remarks to the committee.

Both Ms Lea and Mr Taylor dealt at length and gave detailed testimony as to why Britain should not join the single currency, a balancing factor which should have received equal coverage in your report.

Objective reporting was further undermined by seeking a comment only from Simon Buckby of the pro-euro group Britain in Europe. Surely a balancing comment from the opposite camp such as UKIP or Business for Sterling was warranted. - Dave Pascoe, Press Secretary, UK Independence Party, Hartlepool Branch.

SUNDERLAND FC

IT has been said that one needs a good sense of humour to be a Sunderland supporter. And I had a good laugh on Saturday afternoon when I switched on the TV sports programme and there sat Peter Reid to give us his views as a soccer expert.

An expert? This man has managed two football clubs and has been sacked by both.

But here is the biggest laugh of all. Football management, or mismanagement, has made him a millionaire.

I am not envious of anyone's earnings, but I do feel a bit of a twerp when I realise that I am one of those suckers who has contributed to his huge salary. Life can be just a little bit unfair.

To look on the bright side, no doubt Mr Reid will have been laughing all the way to the bank. - Jonny Wilson, Haswell Plough.

SATURDAY'S 3-1 home loss against Charlton was both embarrassing and humiliating for SAFC fans everywhere.

While the defeat itself left the Wearsiders propping up the Premiership table, the writing has been on the wall for many months and a return to the Nationwide League now seems inevitable.

Unless a miracle does occur and we do survive, this particular relegation will be the fourth under Bob Murray's stewardship - hardly inspiring leadership.

Murray has said that the decline has been ongoing, yet he has failed to act before it was too late. The appointment of Wilkinson/Cotterill looks more foolish by the day and to say that if we go down their jobs are secure is ludicrous.

The board appears to assume that we will bounce straight back up. This is not guaranteed, just ask Derby County and Ipswich Town.

There was a school of thought that our last relegation from the Premiership was largely due to the fact that the directors were more concerned about the building of the Stadium of Light. This time we have the forthcoming addition of the Academy of Light - a case of history repeating itself? - Tony Ratton, Sunderland.

FIREWORKS

YORKSHIRE Independent Grocers Association supports a total ban on the retail sale of fireworks. We are the only known retail trade association to support such a ban.

It is a fact that abuse of fireworks result from retail sales by irresponsible retailers; that health and safety requirements for fireworks displays to which the public are allowed necessitate that only fireworks suitable for such displays should be used; that fireworks are an age restricted sale commodity; and that secure storage is a problem. - Peter Brant, Secretary, YIGA.

WAR ON IRAQ

I AM concerned that the US government appears to be determined to go ahead in attacking Iraq in the name of war against the evils of the Iraqi regime or war against terrorism.

But does it realise that this war is going to cost millions of innocent lives, as it did in Afghanistan, yet they have no trace of Osama bin Laden.

I personally think this war is not against the evils of the Iraqi regime or war against terrorism. I feel that George W Bush has a personal interest in Iraq, which is in my view gaining control of the massive oil reserves in Iraq. It seems he is determined to establish his interest at any cost.

On the other hand, Tony Blair is totally ignoring the opinions of the British public, even his own constituents.

He also determined to join with President Bush in his planned invasion of Iraq, only because of his friendship. I strongly feel that Tony Blair will make his biggest mistake by being a 'yes' man to George W Bush.

Tony Blair and his Government say they cannot afford to pay the firefighters, social care staff and other public sector workers a decent wage, yet they are prepared to spend billions of pounds for this war. I strongly feel it should be left to the UN to deal with the Iraqi regime. - Zafar Uddin, Linthorpe, Middlesbrough.