CHRIS FOOTE WOOD: I AM deeply suspicious of people who style themselves as "liberal" as in my experience "liberals" have a list as long as your tax bill of the things they wish to ban.

Chris Foote Wood is a Liberal Democrats Party councillor and supports regional assemblies. Many rational people consider such support to be neither liberal nor democratic.

In my view, Councillor Foote Wood's own liberality appears to extend only to liberally accusing others of being liars (HAS, June 14 and July 31).

In my case, he went a stage further by accusing me of sending him abusive emails (HAS, June 14).

I received no reply to my email, of June 14, requesting him to forward to me any emails from me he considered to be abusive.

It was not until I wrote to Coun Foote Wood suggesting that he complied with my request, otherwise I would be compelled to take legal action against him, that he responded (in a very short space of time).

He was unable to provide me with any such emails because, as he explained: "I get hundreds of emails every month" (I bet he does) "and I cannot keep them indefinitely".

The other reason he was unable to present me with any abusive emails from me was that I have never sent him any abusive emails. Not being very trusting of self-styled "liberals", I have kept all my correspondence with Coun Foote Wood.

He may, or may not, have received an unpalatable email from a member of my party. As we all know, every political party has one or two rogue members, as the odd Minister's office desk might testify. At the risk of being accused of being liars, it is for Coun Foote Wood's Liberal Democrats Party local government colleagues to identify who their own rogue element is; it is not for me to say.

Anyone who forms part of Coun Foote Wood's "hobby" (once known as constituents) may take a look at his member's interests and discover these included: European Movement, Britain in Europe, Campaign for English Regions, Local Government Group for Europe, North-East in Europe, Liberal Democrats European Movement, Campaign for a North East Assembly, North-East Constitutional Convention, North-East "Yes" Campaign.

Plenty of "regions" and "Europe" to be seen, but a little light on "liberal democracy", some might say. These "interests" don't seem to have done much good when Swan Hunter lost a shipbuilding contract to Scotland and fishermen of the "north-east region" were prevented from fishing for mackerel, apparently reserved for Scots.

Did somebody just bark "liar"?

The English Democrats Party will be targeting Coun Foote Wood's constituency in forthcoming elections because, in our opinion, the people there deserve better. - Stephen Gash, National Council, English Democrats Party, Carlisle.

LIBDEM councillor Chris Foote Wood has little or no public support for his ongoing suggestions regarding the North East Assembly.

His letter (HAS, July 31) suggests that it was LibDems who voted for him to be on the assembly. So, at last, he admits he isn't representing the people of Wear Valley, he is fronting the LibDems.

Can I therefore ask that the LibDems pay his expenses, and not the taxpayers of Wear Valley. - Colin Raine, Bishop Auckland.

FOR better or for worse, the Government has left in place the North-East's indirectly-elected Regional Assembly (despite the No vote in 2004's referendum to a directly-elected one).

The majority of the assembly's members are councillors either directly appointed by their own authority or elected by councillors across the region to better reflect the political make-up of North-East councils.

Liberal Democrat councillor Chris Foote Wood has been singled out by some local Conservatives in HAS for having been elected to the assembly by LibDem councillors to ensure it is properly balanced.

Why have your correspondents not criticised the Conservative councillors appointed the same way (or the Labour or Independent councillors), or even those appointed by unelected groups such as the CBI, trades unions or colleges?

If you don't like the system, blame the people who made the rules, not people like Coun Foote Wood who are trying to make them work as best they can for the people of the North-East. - Councillor Paul Leake, Independent, Durham City Council.

* Editor's footnote: Further correspondence on the above subjects will be limited to 200 words - the maximum allowed for contributions to Hear All Sides.

TRAVELLING LIGHT

I WAS amused to read of the latest efforts of our PM, leading the way as always, to do something drastic about air pollution before hell freezes over.

Putting a couple of energy-saving light bulbs in and giving us the usual scolding (no doubt a prelude to even higher fuel taxes) he orders a replacement for his 25hp car, a 25,000hp airliner to jaunt about in (at our expense) with another for the Royals (buy one, get one free, perhaps). It's nice to know someone of integrity is at the controls.

Pity the steering can't be fixed for them both to go in one direction only. - Colin Dent, Croxdale, Durham.

FUEL FOR THOUGHT

I WAS interested to read E Reynolds' letter (HAS, Aug 3) about using £10 or £20 notes to obtain petrol 24 hours a day.

When we opened our garage at High Coniscliffe, near Darlington, we installed two petrol pumps that took 50p coins and £1 notes. We had to remove them within one year as it hadn't taken "customers", or rather thieves, long to learn how to obtain their fuel free. Pumps were frequently vandalised and it cost us, at that time, a small fortune. And that was when petrol was four gallons for only £1. - Dick Lawson, Darlington.

PLUS FOURS

CORRESPONDENT E Reynolds asked how plus fours got their name (HAS, Aug 8).

They did so because they are knee-length breeches that have extra material which bags below the knee to the extent of adding four extra inches, and are invariably worn with long stockings. - D Bromley, Sunnybrow, Willington, Co Durham.

I AM sure Echo columnist Mike Amos would never have let you get away with calling the drawing (HAS, Aug 8) "plus fours", above. Those knickerbockers (not trousers, please) are nothing like baggy enough. They are barely plus twos. The reason for the name is that a tailor would work out the length so the garment fastens beneath the knee, and add a few inches, hence plus two or plus four knickerbockers. - Campbell Ritchie, Middlesbrough.

l Footnote: Many thanks to other readers who also provided answers to Mr Reynolds' query.

CORRECT NUMBER

IN a letter headed Research plea (HAS, Aug 8), in which Michael G Blades appealed to the Methodist community in West Auckland for information, the contact telephone number printed was as supplied, but was incorrect. The correct number is (01903) 205092.

CLARIFICATION

IN connection with yesterday's letter, headed Right to die, from Mrs Elsie Morton, of Darlington, we would like to make clear that she herself does not have breast cancer. Her two brothers both had breast cancer, one of whom has survived for 20 years.