PARKING I, TOO, found myself in a similar predicament to Councillor Peter Freitag, who was fined after his car overlapped into a yellow hatched area from his disabled parking space in Park Lane car park, Darlington (Echo, Jan 15).

I had to park next to a 4x4 monster truck - a much-needed vehicle to negotiate Darlington's rough and treacherous terrain of streets.

Anyway, I had to encroach into the next bay so myself and passengers could get out our mode of transport. On our return, the 4x4 had gone and it looked like Mr Magoo had parked my car.

I thought of contesting the fine I received, though in the end I paid up, safe in the knowledge that the local authority would use this muchneeded extra revenue wisely for all our benefit.

I would encourage Mr Freitag to pay his fine, which hopefully he will, and take some comfort that he will be helping fund more worthwhile ventures our authority feel we need, and some we don't.

- Paul Tait, Darlington.

GUM MESS WHILE shopping in Darlington town centre I couldn't help but notice the masses of discarded chewing gum on the streets.

This newly-renovated area around High Row and Priestgate, and most other streets off, is a complete mess.

Perhaps The Northern Echo needs to run a new campaign: that of engaging with those who use chewing gum and educating them into disposing of it properly.

For those who don't know how to do that: take chewing gum, pop in mouth, retain wrapper, remove gum and wrap in wrapper and then put in bin. - Sue Hammler, Middleton St George.