POPPY APPEAL

AS First Citizen of County Durham, I am inviting people to join me in supporting the Royal British Legion's annual Poppy Appeal, which is launched today.

The appeal is a fitting way to remember those men and women who have given so much while serving with the British Armed Forces and a tribute to the sacrifices they have made.

For 85 years, the Legion has benefited thousands of ex-servicemen and women and their families and it continues to play an extremely important role.

As well as providing invaluable support to veterans of two world wars, it is heavily involved in helping those affected by more recent conflicts, including Bosnia, Iraq and Afghanistan.

Recent surveys show that 630,000 ex-service personnel are in need of support and there is expected to be a rise in demand on the Legion's resources in coming years.

That is why the Poppy Appeal, the main source of funding for the Legion's many welfare and benevolent schemes, is as relevant today as it has always been.

I hope the people of County Durham will wear their poppies with pride and I thank them for their continued support of this extremely worthwhile cause.

County Councillor Ernie Foster, Chairman, Durham County Council.

TORY EU HYPOCRISY

LAST week, at UK taxpayers' expense, there was the first Transnational Regional Assembly meeting for the Arc Manche region of southern England, northern France and west Belgium. That's right, the EU no longer recognises European countries.

This is part of the long-running "regional principle" of the European Union, which seeks to bypass national governments and create a new European Superstate.

Eric Pickles, the Conservative Shadow Minister for Local Government said: "Taxpayers will be alarmed that their hard-earned cash is now being spent on literally wiping England off the map and handing power to foreign politicians who they never elected."

Here we have a Tory Front Bench spokesman (whose party signed away the powers now being used by the EU) who has at last grasped what has happened to the United Kingdom and the Sovereignty of the British people.

Yet his party and its leader refuse point blank to propose a solution now and refuse point blank to do anything to reverse the constitutional scandal when they (if they ever) get into government.

This increasingly obvious hypocrisy will certainly lose the Tory Party the next General Election - no matter how disastrous the Labour Government proves in the meantime.

Rodney Atkinson, Stocksfield, Northumberland.

ALLOWANCE CAMPAIGN

MANY blind people are being "cheated" by not being allowed to claim the same level of benefit as wheelchair users.

I know some blind people (who can't drive and in many cases find it impossible to use public transport) are missing vital hospital appointments and job opportunities because the benefit they receive doesn't cover taxi costs.

Not being able to get out independently stops many blind people from doing basic things like getting their own shopping, meeting up with friends, joining local clubs. This has a massive impact on the quality of people's lives.

I support the Royal National Institute of the Blind's (RNIB) campaign for a change to Disability Living Allowance - a state benefit that allows people with other disabilities who can drive to claim its higher "mobility rate" worth £43.45 per week. People with serious sight loss are only eligible to claim the lower rate of £16.50 per week.

I am writing to seek the support of our MP, Fraser Kemp, for the many people in this constituency who could benefit from this change. This situation is unfair and unacceptable. More information about the campaign is available from the RNIB on 020-7391-2123.

Paul Smith, Chilton Moor, Houghton-le-Spring.

FERAL CATS

OUR work with feral cats continues, and over the summer we took in more than 20 cats and kittens. Many needed emergency veterinary treatment for cat flu, and all have had fleas and worms.

The adults are neutered within a few days of arriving. Kittens are tamed and treated for their health problems. All are also vaccinated.

Many will never adapt to be family companions. These are neutered and vaccinated before being released. If there are reliable people feeding them regularly, we release where they were caught. If not, we make sure there is always plenty of food at Farplace and many come to us for food regularly.

The cats are terrified when they first come to stay with us, but soon come to trust the people who feed them. Kittens are handled several times a day, to socialise them with humans. Even so, it's always a pleasure to get that first purr from a feral cat.

If you would like to support this work, cheques can be sent to me, Gareth Edwards, Farplace Animal Rescue, Farplace, Sidehead, Westgate, Co Durham, DL13 1LE (payable to Farplace Animal Rescue) or donations can be made online at www.farplace.co.uk.

Gareth Edwards, Volunteer Chief Executive, Farplace Animal Rescue

WHAT'S IN A NAME?

IT is amazing how history can reverse things. The Indian Tata steel company's offer to buy Corus steelworks is a case in point.

Do many people remember, in the 1920s and 1930s how many steel and iron workers left Middlesbrough to take well paid jobs in India to help Tata become modernised?

And now, the same company is in a position to take over the steelworks in Britain.

The pay for the British workers was very good. One steelworker bought a newly-built house for his daughter in Southwell Road, Middlesbrough.

She did sell it about 50 years ago, but a point of interest was the name the man gave the house when he bought it - TISCO.

It was named after the Indian company which paid such a high wage that the man could afford to buy a new house.

The letters represent the words Tata Iron and Steel Co.

I wonder, do the owners of that house still call it TISCO, and do they know what the letters and name stand for?

E Reynolds, Wheatley Hill, Co Durham.

VEILED THREAT

IT appears that, for the past 60 years, I have been deluding myself in the belief that we Brits enjoyed freedom of speech, and the right to express our views within the bounds of the laws of libel, treason and blasphemy.

Today, we find ourselves accused of Islamaphobia and anti-Semitism. We are free to question or criticise Christianity or the Christian church, but we are obliged to choose our words carefully so we do not give offence to other faiths.

Leading figures are calling for us to cool things down over the issue of Muslim women wearing veils, as failure to do so could result in unrest and riots on the streets.

If you will excuse the apparent pun, I see this as a veiled threat, which I personally resent.

We Brits are expected to accept with a smile such names as imperialists, infidels, Limeys, Poms, etc. Fair enough, we can afford to smile, but why must we be so apologetic to others?

Alan Holmes, Ferryhill, Co Durham.

CLARE SHORT

MP Clare Short's recent departure from the Parliamentary Labour Party comes as no surprise. Indeed, for her, this is just a resignation among many.

She resigned as International Development Secretary in 2003 and has a reputation for relinquishing her position.

Her reasons for resigning this time do not amount to very much.

To describe Tony Blair as "arrogant" and his government as "error prone" is very unoriginal and pretty tepid stuff.

As for her intention to campaign for a hung parliament, such an arrangement, I believe, is unlikely to benefit the country.

Taken overall, there can be little sympathy for the resigning Ms Short.

LD Wilson, Guisborough.