BILL Etherington MP is either possessed of a thick elephant hide, or is completely disingenuous.

Almost all of your correspondents, to whom you have given generous space, are disgusted, angry and incredulous at the behaviour of MPs of all three major parties, milking an entirely dishonourable system.

The most challenging letter of your readers came from the pen of Julie Stormont which asked: 'Why is there no talk of prosecution?'.

The whole judicial system will be undermined unless significant prosecutions are brought.

In the public interest need be the sole justification for such prosecutions. They should be brought and brought soon.

Something was rotten in Hamlet's Denmark, a place where 'the law's delay, the proud man's contumely' were endemic.
Alas, Westminster has proved little different.
GE Brown,
Sanford Court,
Sunderland

Reclaiming a valuable asset
THE recently published photographs of our river, particularly that of Coxgreen (June 10) remind us of the valuable potential asset we have on our doorstep.
But this is only true of the situation at high tide! Mid-to-low tide levels reveal obscene stinking mud banks upstream from the Alexandra Bridge.
And yet there is a solution to this. The new bridge proposals have generated interest, but largely because of emphasis on the visual effects of its design.
If this was to include a dam, or water barrier, carrying the road set, say, at a height of one metre above high tide level, it would create a fresh water lake with woods, fields and grassy slopes reaching to its banks, stretching westward beyond Biddick Bridge, attractive to look at and of enormous leisure potential.
JB Pyke,
South Bents,
Sunderland

Questions about the X1 bus
WHY do we experience difficulty getting the service X1 on a morning?
This service leaves Easington Lane at 9.25am, too early for passes, Hetton Interchange at 9.30am, still too early for passes, but when it arrives at Houghton Church this bus is crammed. What happens before Houghton I do not know. If there are more than 10 passengers boarding at Houghton they have to catch a later bus.
Pass Holder

Sporting thanks
AS an ex-mayor and council colleague of Les Scott of Herrington, I wish him and his team all the best in raising £50,000 with the help of Dr Alan Lillington, an excellent Olympic athlete of 1952 in Helsinki, with the Sunderland Sports Fund, plus the help of boxer Tony Jeffries for our talented young sports people.
Bill Craddock,
Donvale Road,
Washington

Helping the fallen
I WOULD like to thank the two young soldiers, or cadets, who helped me when I fell at the Prospect shops. I wish you every success and a happy life. You deserve it.
Thank you is not enough to say, but it is all I can do.
Grateful Pensioner

Bowled over by kindness
HEARTFELT thanks go out to members and guests of Mowbray Bowling Club on the morning of June 13 at the Barnes bus stop for their help, for the phone call made for an ambulance, to the medics who answered the call, and all nurses, doctor and staff at the Royal Hospital Emergency Department.
Many thanks also for the kind inquiries later. Hoping club members enjoyed their trip to York.
M Dodds,
Planet House,
Sunderland

Ideas for the takings
AFTER seeing and hearing about the money made over the Take That weekend and Oasis concert, I'm hope the money will be spent on improving the city?
My ideas would be an indoor go-karting centre at the former Springs gym or a go-karting centre at the sea front.
I would like more off-road parking/garages made all over the city to stop arsonists setting fire to vehicles.
However, knowing our useless, snobby council, money will be spent on speed bumps and more traffic lights!
John,
Town and Farm

Make a start on the roads
I READ in the Echo, Saturday June 20, of the £2.2million facelifts of streets in Sunniside. Why can no money be found to start on bringing the misery of unmade roads out of the 19th century and into the 21st? A start on the worst (I could suggest the back of Front Street, Fence Houses) and do a number each year would be fair. After all Sunderland exists beyond the city centre.
Joyce Dixon,
Newbottle

Honourable joker
HEARD about the MP who claimed for dog food? He's a Cheeky Chappy and no Pal of mine.
J Chambers,
Rickleton Village Centre,
Washington