YET another young life has been wasted with this weapons culture.
Why is it allowed to go on? What has got to be so bad that the Government says enough is enough? This culture is out of control no matter where it is.

It's good to see that there are some young ones trying to better themselves. The other lot – what can you say about them?

It beggars belief that you have the under tens being intimidating to older people. What's the game there, eh! Lack of respect and no chastising that's what.

Then you have the older ones who think it's cool to carry knives and guns. It's not just about that though, it's what they get up to between this. How they live and better yet, what they are doing.

They are even on TV now on programmes about the weapons culture giving it the thumbs up. It's great eh! Putting fingers up at police and having a whale of a time, intimidation again and again.

Put the under tens into boot camp get the respect back for people. The older ones, well if they want to fight them put them into national service till they are at least twenty-five. Let them fight like our troops are doing.

Or why not bring our army back and put all of them on the streets of Britain. Maybe that way people will feel safe again.

Gone is the softly-softly touch. It's about time the Government did something constructive to get this sorted out once and for all. If they don't maybe kids will be in charge one day. It's only a matter of when, not if, it happens. Instead of all the political back-biting they want to get this country sorted out. Gordon Brown is like Nero fiddling while Rome burns.
B Crute,
Cleveland Road,
Sunderland

Shocking deaths
IT'S shocking that knife and gang culture is on the rise, especially the 18 tragic deaths this year in inner London.

Some of the problems must be coming from American rap music.

When I lived in London, not so long ago, I had a teacher friend. She had taught for 30 years at inner London primary schools. She told me that there were no problems till the children reached the age of older school gang culture etc.

I don't blame the parents or teachers. They cannot be there 24/7. Most parents are caring but don't realise how others must feel when their children are out on the streets with a groups of other hoodies, making other folk feel intimidated.

No family should have to suffer the loss of a loved one through needless street crime.

Human rights do-gooders should be made to see how these poor victims' families have to cope with the sudden tragic loss of a loved one.
Peter Kerr,
Fulwell,
Sunderland

Charity bag cheats
I WOULD like to alert Sunderland residents making donations via doorstep charity bags to be aware of possible false collections in the Sunderland area.

A very disappointed charity bag donor of ours has reported that after placing an Age Concern bag at her doorstep early one morning, it was collected by 9.00am, it was assumed, by Age Concern. Fifty minutes later a white van, with an Age Concern sign in the windscreen came to collect bags from the street, which had already been taken.

To avoid further disappointment to generous donors and the charities they are helping, I would ask that all charity supporters be aware of this possible scam.

May I remind readers that they can donate to either of our charity shops by dropping items off/call to arrange a collection at either shop in Blandford Street on 0191 5670678 or Sea Road on 0191 5497640. I take this opportunity to thank our supporters and donors.
Alan Patchett,
Director, Age Concern Sunderland

Beware white van
WOULD you please print this as a warning to people putting charity bags out?

The other morning I left a bag out for Age Concern. It was collected by a man in a white van.

An hour later another white van came to collect the bags. He was definitely from Age Concern but he didn't get many bags because of the man in the whiter van. I now feel reluctant to leave any bags out because of this.
Maureen Wilson

Street sign vanished
MY family are residents of Mill Bank, the very steep cul-de-sac en route to Fulwell Windmill. Since some time late last year, the one street sign with which we had had to make do, suddenly vanished.

Despite this age of satellite-navigation and other such modern wonders, we remain invisible to taxi drivers, takeaway deliverymen and others of that ilk. Late taxis and cold pizzas are no fun, I can assure you.

The matter approached its crescendo last week when a parcel intended for a house in Cairns Square (two culs-de-sac north) was wrongly delivered to my address. I unflinchingly directed the deliveryman to the correct location, but the possibility that valuable items may be sent to various, and less scrupulous, doors, underscores how important it is that we have our humble road appropriately signposted.

The residents of Mill Bank would be extremely grateful if any of our local representatives would raise this problem with the relevant authorities and end our present chaos.
Ross Seymour,
Fulwell,
Sunderland

Ridiculous to keep new bridge design a secret
THE news that – at long last! – there seems to be progress towards the construction of the much-needed additional road bridge across the River Wear is very welcome.

A cost in excess of £100million for its construction is quoted and major building projects tend to end up costing more than the original estimate.

How ridiculous, though, that the design of the bridge is still being kept from the city's residents who will, of course, be meeting the cost of its construction.

Having seen the plans myself I am not aware or anything which needs keeping from the people of the city.

The citizens of Sunderland are entitled to see the design proposed for the bridge now. Otherwise, are they going to be made to wait until the bridge is actually being built?
Coun Peter Wood, Conservative transport spokesman, Sunderland City Council

Miserly payout
CONCERNING the letter by J Purvis (Echo, July 4) ... ageism is a factor, I think, which should be addressed concerning redundancy payouts.

However, I believe that a standard payout should be adopted by all employers, as a lot of them are getting away with daylight robbery!
The company referred to by Mr Purvis pays out at a rate of, for every year worked; two week's pay for under 22s, four weeks pay from 22 to 41, and six weeks pay for over 41s.

In recent weeks, one of the North East's biggest housebuilders, Bellway Homes, has made many people redundant. These unfortunate souls would be rubbing their hands in glee at the prospect of such a payout!

The miserly payout offered by Bellway is one week's pay for every year worked up to the age of 41, then a "whopping" 1½ week's pay for all subsequent years!

If that's not bad enough, this "week's pay" is capped at £330, which is less than half of what most workers earn anyway!

I don't know of any other firm that offers such a miserly payout!!
Disgruntled, ex-Bellway worker

Worms have no legs
I WONDERED if any of your readers have been on the Lambton Worm Go North East bus?

The picture on the side is nothing like a worm. Surely the picture is of a dragon? A worm does not have legs, and a tail with a point on and, most of all fire coming out of its mouth.

I think the person who did the design had not read the poem.
Ann Gouge,
Chilton Moor

Truck blocked bays
WHY is it somebody got fined for using the disabled bay in Asda late at night when the car park was nearly empty, yet the other week I took my disabled brother and his wife there, as I do once a fortnight, and couldn't get a bay?

It was because there was a big truck stuck in the disabled section and taking up six bays, plus the staff with the truck had other bays taken up. So we had to park quite a long way from the entrance, plus it wasn't a nice day either.

So you can't use the bays without getting fined if the car park is empty but it's okay to take over the whole lot at a busy time. I think it must be one law for you and a different law for others. Why?
James Mather,
Lindsay Close,
Sunderland

Quenchers query
WOULD any Echo readers be able to help me please?

I'm trying to find out about a company called Mayfair Products Ltd who were based in Sunderland and who made sweets called Quenchers.

If anyone could give me any information, I would be very grateful.
Linda Line,
Email: lrline@yahoo.co.uk