FAMOUS FIVE: MY initial reaction to the return of the Famous Five (Echo, Dec 5) was "Jolly good. What fun." Then I noticed the warning - with a modern twist.

Enid Blyton's much-loved characters, Julian, Dick, Anne and George, are to be succeeded, it seems, by the children of the original adventurers, plus a new Timmy the dog. It is reported that the stories will "remain faithful to the spirit of the originals". Why do those words set alarm bells ringing?

The primary feature of the originals is their Englishness. Since being English has all but been airbrushed out of the scene by the powers that be, I wonder how politically correct and un-English the new Famous Five will be.

Another concern is how the now obligatory major character from an ethnic minority can be included. Will it be suggested that one of the original five married someone of a different nationality, allowing a mixed race child to be in the group?

Just how true to the original will the new series really be? Will the "contemporary take" be a take too far? - EA Moralee, Billingham.

CHRISTMAS

I AGREE with Albert Curle (HAS, Dec 8) in his stance against political correctness this Christmas.

The Red Cross bans Christmas decorations from its shops, the Scottish Parliament discourages traditional Christmas cards for fear of upsetting minority groups, Christmas parties are being replaced by "winter parties" and even the Royal Mail has issued the 2006 Christmas cover without a Christian theme.

We are all encouraged to celebrate the Chinese New Year and the Notting Hill Carnival, but the Nativity and Bible would be removed from every school curriculum if these "cranks" had their way.

These "liberals" are so bent on introducing our apparent ignorant society into other cultures that they cannot see the wood for the trees.

I would have thought that if they were really interested in welcoming minority ethnic and religious groups to the UK, now would be the ideal time.

Sadly, this will never happen as these minorities may actually enjoy an age-old Christian tradition. Then where would the politically correct cronies be? Probably sat at home indulging in humbuggery. - Kevin McStravick, Darlington.

MPS' SALARIES

MPS are reportedly seeking a £40,000 pay rise. So what have they done to deserve one? Devolution to Scottish Parliament and Welsh Assembly, and the fact that 70 per cent of new laws now come straight from Brussels, means our MPs now have little say over the laws of our land.

They have managed to reduce their level of responsibility and so have become less productive.

Hundreds of candidates at every general election fail to become MPs, but would be delighted to take on the job, even at the current salary of £60,000 plus expenses and pension.

So, if you went to your boss asking for £40,000 pay rise under these circumstances what do you think the answer would be? - Stephen Allison, UKIP Councillor, St Hilda Ward, Hartlepool.

COUNCIL CHANGES

I WAS intrigued by Councillor David Freeman's letter (HAS, Dec 8) regarding possible future changes to our council structure.

Unfortunately, it seemed to be more about political point-scoring than a genuine concern about the future of council services.

Coun Freeman says the people of Durham are not likely to believe our county councillors have the ability to run one single authority. Is he giving us the benefit of his experience because it seems that it is acceptable for him to be both a city councillor and a county councillor?

He goes on to say that working closely with people has real benefits and I agree.

Given that Coun Freeman is one of the Liberal Democrats running Durham City Council, I find that statement jaw-dropping.

Just ask the residents of Elvet Waterside, Esh Winning, Witton Gilbert, West Rainton, Meadowfield and Brandon, who were not properly consulted, or not consulted at all, regarding the sale of land or housing developments. - Councillor Paul Taylor, Labour, Brandon Ward, Durham City Council.

RE Liberal Democrat councillor David Freeman's response to proposals for the possible creation of new council structures in County Durham. (HAS, Dec 8).

He makes bold statements about what he and his colleagues clearly know little about. They appear to signal independence for the City of Durham, controlled by themselves, yet their administration is as bad as the last one, as council tax payers in the city will confirm.

A change in council structure resulting in the creation of a single all-purpose council serving County Durham would cut out seven layers of bureaucracy, leaving, for example, one chief executive instead of seven, saving almost £750,000.

When Liberal Democrats tell a story they need to tell the whole story. - Councillor John Shuttleworth, Independent, Durham County Council.

MUSLIMS

RECENT statements by Messrs Blair, Straw and Reid are designed to distract from widespread public dissatisfaction with foreign policy and the NHS by getting people to blame Muslims for all of their problems.

Unfortunately, a number of recent letter writers to HAS have fallen for this.

This Government has spent £6bn pounds on the wars in the Middle East.

It was announced last week that £4m per day is still being wasted on the occupations of Iraq and Afghanistan. Think what better use this money could have been put to on hospitals, schools and pensioners.

The recent Baker Report in the US has acknowledged that the war and occupation of Iraq were a disaster from the start.

Muslims born and bred in this country are not responsible for this state of affairs. The major problems in this country are caused by the continuing occupations of Iraq and Afghanistan.

Researchers from John Hopkins University recently produced a report in the highly respected medical journal, The Lancet, showing that the occupation is responsible for the deaths of more than half a million Iraqi civilians. - G Abbott, Newcastle.

GENERAL PINOCHET

I WAS disgusted to read about Lady Thatcher sending her deepest condolences to the family of General Pinochet, a fascist military dictator who overthrew a democratically-elected government and instigated the murder and torture of more than 3,000 citizens of Chile.

Wives were tortured in front of their husbands, and vice versa, and children were tortured. The latest charges which he avoided, apart from the above-mentioned, apparently also involved fraud and cocaine smuggling. Mrs Thatcher sent her condolences. What can one say? - Eric Gendle, Middlesbrough.

SHOWER 'WHITEWASH'

READING your report, "Report into shower cost 'a whitewash'" (Echo, Dec 13), about the high cost of the shower for the Chief Constable of North Yorkshire Police, I find it strange that employees of the police should talk of an estimate rather than a quotation.

As a young man I was taught that a quotation was a legally binding offer whereas an estimate was not. But that was a long time ago. - JW Davison, Ferryhill, Co Durham.