RONNIE BIGGS

GREAT Train robber gang member Ronnie Biggs has returned to Britain from Rio where he has lived the high life for over 35 years while evading British justice.

One national daily, which paid his fare, reported that the people of Margate would be queueing up to stand him a pint.

Do these stupid people not realise that, due to the violent action, the train driver never worked again and died later?

Biggs should be treated the same as any other fugitive from justice, regardless of his ill health.

His friends, the criminal fraternity, say we should treat him with compassion. There was no compassion shown towards the train driver whose life was ruined by the actions of Biggs and Co and who died later because of them.

The idiots who class Biggs as some folk hero should get their brains into gear and remember that Biggs was a member of a criminal group who resorted to intimidation and brutality, which to them was a way of life.

No special treatment should be given to Biggs, the criminal who has evaded justice for over 35 years and has remained unpunished for the part he played in the Great Train Robbery of August 1963. - Jack Amos, Willington.

MOST people in favour of the return to this country of Ronnie Biggs are mainly those who have not suffered at the hands of criminals.

Biggs, who has money by theft and paid nothing in taxes to this country, will be able to have medical treatment. If, and when, released he will draw a pension or benefits and be allowed a council house, all of which he has paid nothing towards.

The murderer Harold Shipman is also fortunate. He caused untold misery to relatives of untold numbers of his victims. He also will be looked after in his old age.

If Dr Shipman had been in a state in America, he would have been sentenced to death and probably have been killed by lethal injection. - E Reynolds, Wheatley Hill.

GENERAL ELECTION

WILLIAM Hague has emphasised the need for us all to support the local economy.

That's nothing new. Many of us pensioners have been doing that for years.

However, it has to be noted that the Richmondshire Conservative Association's pamphlet Common Sense, was printed in Exeter.

They obviously never got the message or just ignored it. - George Hayes, Richmond.

TONY Blair is asking voters for a second term in office and a second chance.

I remember him saying in 1997: "Things can only get better." But have they? We are paying more in tax than ever, but what has New Labour done with our money?

Violent crime has risen, police numbers have fallen and public services are worse. Broken promises, spin, sleaze and the Dome is the record of New Labour.

Hard-working families shouldn't make the mistake of giving a second chance to a Government that has been second rate. - MJ Fishwick, Chairman, Durham City Conservative Future.

RACE DEBATE

PETER Winstanley (HAS, May 7) is, as usual, missing the point concerning the right of the British people - English, Irish, Scottish and Welsh - to rule their own destinies.

The Northern Echo makes an issue because an MP makes a derogatory statement; unwise and foolish in his position. Yet, a correspondent and the Foreign Secretary can deride us, but are not called into question.

There are many instances in the world today of intolerance and human misery but you don't solve this issue by making a mockery of the British people and try to muzzle them with a quango, the Commission for Racial Equality.

The Government has tried to stifle any debate on this issue, because it has failed to live up to its responsibilities, that has seen other nations make a mockery of this whole affair and a Home Secretary that has not the decency to admit he has made a fool of the British people. - John Young, Crook.

LOCAL DEMOCRACY

IN Wear Valley, the district council has selected a streamlined version of the committee system, cutting back on the number of meetings whilst still maintaining proper scrutiny of council decisions. Compare this with the situation in Sedgefield Borough where we have a cabinet system which no one, apart from Labour councillors, wants.

In the referendum, questionnaires were not sent to all the houses and, out of those that were, only two per cent replied.

This shows not that the electorate was not interested in what form the council takes, but it was not prepared to accept any of the options on offer. Even so, the council is not bound by the results of any referendum. So the question that has to be asked is what was the point of this pointless exercise apart from wasting council taxpayers' money? The cabinet system is essentially undemocratic in that there is no proper scrutiny of the decisions made by the cabinet. - Martin Jones, Liberal Democrat Candidate, Tudhoe.

GREAT NORTH RUN

THOSE of you taking part in this year's Great North Events might consider raising sponsorship money for the CHIN-UP Independent Children's Hospice Appeal.

The region's families, caring for terminally-ill children, desperately need this facility, where the whole family can go for much-needed holiday and respite breaks with full support services.

A region which produced the Great North Run can surely provide our brave bairns with such a vital support. So lads and lasses, whatever event you are taking part in, best foot forward and CHIN-UP.

Sponsorship forms can be obtained by phoning CHIN-UP on 0191-236 4646. All money received is acknowledged with a thank you letter and receipt. - Jack Charlton, Patron of

CHIN-UP