BLACK & DECKER: AS an ex-employee of Black & Decker, and also one of the 570 made redundant when Fujitsu pulled out, I have sympathy with those affected by the recent bad news.

I totally agree with those who say that immediate assistance is required for the North-East.

While we can't hide from the global economy, I don't believe for one minute that an area that has given so much engineering excellence to the world can't be directed in such a way that we make it much more difficult for the multi-nationals to take such decisions.

We can argue all day about the employment laws, but I would much prefer Britain's industrial leaders to inspire and direct Britain to be great again.

While I have no axe to grind with those employed in call centres, I disagree with replacing more lost jobs with call centres.

We, as a region, need to skill up, not down, and build on the core skills many already have.

We need to fight for our share of the new technology jobs, which appear lately to go solely to Cambridge and the M4 belt.

I don't expect the Labour elite to listen to a Bishop Tory, so I ask all Labour lads proud of this region to make those in charge accountable. - Jim Tague, Chairman, Bishop Auckland Branch, Conservative Party.

THE loss of so many jobs at Black & Decker due to costcutting is depressing news and I feel angry and frustrated with a Government which is allowing such economic devastation to take place.

I mean, all that wasted human energy and human upset for the sake of a figure at the bottom of a page.

There has to be a better way. That way is surely nationalism. England seems to be decaying around our ears, with the Government unable to improve matters. Ours really is a dying civilisation. - Aled Jones, Bridlington.

REGIONAL GOVERNMENT

WHEN regional assemblies are discussed at the political party conferences and in the press, it is noticeable that the majority of those strongly in favour of such assemblies are also in favour of more European integration, the euro etc.

Hopefully, the public will pick up on the subtle scheme being put into action under the covering cloak of this drive for local autonomy.

Divide and conquer is an underlying theme. Divide Britain into small regions, as are already depicted on European maps, ensure that the ruling group of each region is dominated by pro-European figures, then watch the dominoes fall as each region is manipulated to give a majority (however small) yes vote to more European integration.

While Britain remains united, the majority stand firm to defend our sovereignty. If we allow our nation to become fragmented, we lose the combined strength of our people to say no to European domination. - EA Moralee, Billingham.

EUROPE

THE story of the Thirsk cheesemaker and the battles with EC in Brussels (Echo, Oct 4) should underline the bullying, dictatorial nature of the EU.

Yet again, an EU directive is forced upon this country without debate in parliament, and just a willing acceptance by the drones of New Labour of every bit of euro trash that comes its way.

How reminiscent of the 'metric martyrs' case which bestowed criminal records on five market traders for trading in imperial measures.

Freeing ourselves from this madness is essential. This interference in every aspect of our lives will only get worse and more sinister. Britain must withdraw its membership of the EU at the first available opportunity. - Dave Pascoe, Press Secretary, Hartlepool Branch, UK Independence Party.

ARTS CENTRE

ON Saturday night, I visited Darlington to see the comedian and author Tony Hawks at Darlington Arts Centre.

We travelled all the way from Doncaster for the show as it was one of the closest and easiest venues on Tony's tour for us to get to. The show was fantastic and we thoroughly enjoyed it.

We were also impressed with the venue. While I have visited Darlington before, it was the first time I had visited the Arts Centre. It is a pleasant environment and the way in which the show was staged was a pleasure.

All credit to staff at the Arts Centre for making a 166-mile round trip in the fog and rain even more worthwhile. - Darren Burke, Doncaster.

SMALL BUSINESS

ALL my working life I and my family have owned, managed, grown and worried about our own businesses.

My zest for business continues unabated. However, many of my fellow entrepreneurs are becoming increasingly demotivated.

In the North-East a survey commissioned by the Federation of Small Businesses confirmed that in 2000 business people believed that the most important factor to survival and growth was one's own capabilities.

Two years later, a repeat survey revealed that pressures beyond the control of business people could now more than ever influence success or failure. These pressures are regulations, directives, floods, terrorism and crises such as the foot-and-mouth outbreak.

Small business are now the major job creators and sustainers of employment in the North-East. They employ over 50 per cent of the private sector workforce.

In the light of the recent job loses, the non-corporate employer needs to be supported, now more than at any time since the industrial revolution created the conurbations that dominate the North-East landscape.

The millions of pounds of grant aid that have been given to huge international conglomerates as an incentive for 'here today and gone tomorrow' factories could have been better given to the small business community.

It is better that a large number of people work for a large number of small businesses rather than large numbers of people work for a small number of large companies. - Mrs Chris Williamson, Secretary, Darlington Branch Federation of Small Businesses.