REGARDING the letter about the funeral of Tom Harker of Sadberge (HAS, May 18).

I was a friend of Mr Harker and saw what went on. Thugs pulled up outside of the church in Stockton and one did have a machete.

Tom was a good man and well thought of by people from all over the country who wanted to pay their respects, but were warned to stay away by these thugs.

I think it’s about time the police woke up to what’s going on. There is a group of people who've terrorised others in Darlington and the North-East for long enough.

Name supplied, Darlington