RAIL LINKS

THINKING of taking advantage of The Northern Echo offer of reduced price trips on GNER I looked at the timetable for connecting trains from Bishop Auckland to Darlington.

I was disappointed to see that while the first train is at 7.21am, the next one is not until 9.23am. So there is a two-hour gap just at the time when those going to work or leisure travellers would find a train most useful.

This timetable must make commuting to Darlington almost impossible from stations along the Bishop Auckland line except for those who start work really early.

The result is that a few will take the bus, which will get caught up in the rush hour while most will make the rush hour worse by taking to their cars.

In the evenings, there is a gap in trains from Darlington to Bishop between 4pm and 5.30pm and this reflects the pattern through the day.

Is it really beyond the resources of Northern Rail to provide a reasonably regular timetable with trains for commuters at a reasonable hour, and reasonable connections at Darlington for those who want to travel further afield?

What do the local councils and the passengers' associations have to say about this? - Richard Ashby, Hunwick, Crook, Co Durham.

NUCLEAR WEAPONS

CORRESPONDENT J Severs' references to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and the International Court of Justice are correct (HAS, Dec 7), but both J Severs and Peter Mullen (Echo, Dec 5) have forgotten the US policy of Global Domain Perspective.

This policy, developed by right-wing Christian fundamentalists, declared the Strategic Arms Limitations Talks, Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaties and international law to be void, allowing for the development of a new generation of battlefield and for the deployment of space-based nuclear weaponry.

The threat of nuclear terror raining down on civilian and military targets would be used to forcibly change the governments and cultures of entire nations in order to make the world serve the needs of the US.

Countries such as Iran and North Korea desire their own nuclear weapons to prevent any possible nuclear strikes by the US.

Equally, Mr Mullen does realise that nuclear deterrents only deter if you know what country is launching the strike. But if a nuclear bomb is exploded near Parliament during Prime Minister's Questions there will be no way to determine who launched the attack and no one with the authority to order a counter-strike. - CT Riley, Spennymoor, Co Durham.

CHRISTMAS

I AM so upset about what I am reading in the press regarding those who are faceless and politically correct and say we should not acknowledge Christmas in case we "offend" those of different faiths.

I must respond by saying I am offended, deeply offended. I am English and Christian. This is the land of my birth and it is a Christian country.

That is what I am and who I am. I would not presume to tell those of different faiths what and when to celebrate and I expect to be shown the same courtesy.

I wonder if those faceless unknown, supposedly politically correct persons will be sitting down to Christmas dinner, have a Christmas tree and open presents. If they are, then they are hypocrites. I know just what to do with political correctness - Room 101. - BM Kelly, Darlington.

HAPPY DAYS

I TOTALLY agree with the letter regarding having a National Happy Day (HAS, Dec 8).

Instead of holding charitable fundraising days for foreign causes and constantly getting harassed by the Government and the left-wing media to donate to issues concerning other countries, a Happy Day for us British citizens would be an ideal way for us all to forget about mass immigration and rising unemployment.

It would also be a good idea to make it a fundraising day for British causes, too.

If people power can persuade the Government to let us enjoy such a day, then I would happily dress up in a pumpkin outfit every year and sing old British anthems, such as Rule Britannia, on High Row, Darlington, to raise cash for a local pensioners' club or children's home. - Christopher Wardell, Darlington.

MUSLIM WEBSITE

IT is unsurprising that David Lacey's search for "Muslim terrorism" on the Muslim Council of Britain (MCB) website yielded nothing (HAS, Dec 7).

The MCB rejects the term as self-contradictory, as Islam forbids the indiscriminate murder of civilians.

I suggest he revisits the website, and finds the press releases archive. If he then looks at the press releases for September 11, 2001; October 12, 2002; March 13, 2004; and July 7, 2005, he will find the MCB's response to the terrorist atrocities in New York, Bali, Madrid and London.

I don't agree with the MCB on every issue, but I applaud their stand against terrorism and violence. - Pete Winstanley, Durham.

NELSON MANDELA

THE romantic view of Nelson Mandela offered by Hugh Pender (HAS, Nov 30) and the comparison to the non-violent Gandhi suggested by David Lacey (HAS, Dec 6) are both questionable to say the least.

Nelson Mandela was convicted of plotting to destroy a shopping centre full of women and children and served 27 years in prison for his involvement in underground armed resistance.

Mandela was leader of the militant, communist and terrorist organisation ANC's armed wing which he co-founded. He was offered unconditional freedom in 1985 in return for publicly renouncing violence. The fact is he has never publicly renounced violence and was removed from Amnesty International's prisoners of conscience list, also in 1985.

I would like to make clear I am in no way defending apartheid. It is the acceptance of terrorists and terrorism on any principle I am against whether Islamic, Republican or political.

I would suggest that Steve Biko is more deserving of recognition for his passive resistance to apartheid. - Des More, Darlington.

I DESPAIRED when I read Steve Colburn's comments about South Africa (HAS, Dec 5). He obviously has no regard for Nelson Mandela.

European colonialists for centuries exploited the people and wealth of South Africa and stating the obvious about that country's problems is demeaning. It was not so long ago that in this country we had child labour and women did not have the vote.

On the other hand, thanks to Kev McStravick (HAS, also Dec 5) for drawing our attention to Martin Luther King who did so much for the civil rights movement in the US. - Hugh Pender, Darlington.

DAVID Lacey wrote that Nelson Mandela won simply by using the ultimate weapon - the power of goodness (HAS, Dec 6).

Mandela was leader of the ANC's armed wing, Umkhonto we Sizwe (Spear of the Nation). He co-ordinated a sabotage campaign against military and government targets, and made plans for a guerrilla war which the organisation took up during the 1980s.

Though he came to use violence only as a last resort - and probably for the right reasons - to suggest he remained committed to non-violence is at worst outright disingenuous. - Chris White, Spennymoor, Co Durham.