Letters to the Editor

I have a family history of breast cancer and had regular annual checks and mammograms until two years go. Never in all the time I attended the clinics, staffed by experts, was I informed that taking asprin or Ibuprofen regularly would reduce my chances of getting cancer. I was simply told to examine myself regularly.

Last year I was called to attend a mobile screening unit for women in the vulnerable age category for breast cancer. A tumour was discovered and I have had surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy, at great expense to myself (in terms of pain and worry) and the NHS.

To discover one year on from my treatment that perhaps it could all have been avoided, well I am afraid it is staggering. When I read the article I cried.

The staff of the NHS do a wonderful job, but why aren't they trained to inform us how to help ourselves in so simple a matter?

I have been told that I have a 60 per cent chance of getting the disease again. Still no-one has told me to take an asprin or Ibuprofen, but I will start today.

Thank you so much for bringing this life-saving information to my attention.

Mrs Christine Barret, Swan Avenue, Gilstead.

SIR - After watching on television the outcome of a survey regarding the actions of Tony Martin, I am totally disgusted with the powers-that-be.

The survey concluded that 97 per cent of the people asked agreed with the actions of the jailed Norfolk farmer.

A human rights solicitor said that burglars had the same human rights as upstanding members of the community. This is another load of government effluence which makes a mockery of a so-called democratic society.

I bet if a referendum were called for, the percentage of the whole population would be nearly the same as that in the survey.

The way Tony Martin has been treated is criminal. He never should have been charged in the first place. This is a political witch-hunt against an honest man.

So just remember, if you work hard and pay your taxes be prepared to be robbed - not only by the burglars, but also by the Government who just don't care about you! The only way to win in this situation is to become a burglar yourself then you will have the full respect of "The Law".

I wonder how long it will be before someone else is hounded in this manner? Come the revolution brothers!

Trevor Williams-Berry, Bredon Avenue, Wrose

SIR - Your headline on May 3 about Bradford's new chief executive post said "£200,000 for hot seat."

Why should this be so?

Are we to get a person fit and able to command such a salary, do his duty for the benefit of Bradford and its taxpayers, or are we to get another who passes the buck?

Council matters and council concerns should be dealt with by the council and not passed to outside bodies to remedy.

Buck-passing should not be the order of the day from council staff at any level.

Stephen Walsh, Church Street, Bingley.

SIR - May I be allowed to apologise to Mr and Mrs Puttock for my comments in respect of the accident to their three-year-old.

The original report did not mention that the child was accompanied and I inferred, wrongly, that the little girl was alone. Ignorance of the full facts is my problem.

I have grown-up children and fortunately they were never big ice-cream lovers. Neither was involved in any road accidents but in this case I could not claim it as a result of good parenting. Again, sorry.

P E Bird, Nab Wood Terrace, Shipley

SIR - For the third year running, British Gas's Think Energy campaign has been promoting the benefits of energy efficiency through education and awareness-building in primary and secondary schools. Almost 50 per cent of schools in Britain have requested Think Energy resource packs including 40 per cent of schools in Bradford.

Teachers up and down the country have been telling us that the children taking part in the scheme are displaying energy-efficient behaviour while in school. Most importantly, they're taking what they learn in the classroom and making real differences at home.

The most popular ways of saving energy are often the most simple, such as turning off lights, not leaving the TV on standby, and encouraging their parents to fit energy-saving lightbulbs.

However, there are still schools in Bradford that could be doing more to help the country become more energy efficient. I would encourage parents, teachers and anyone who is concerned about helping our environment to request information on Think Energy by visiting HYPERLINK http://www.think-energy.com www.think-energy.com.

Let's continue to help our children understand the benefits of being energy efficient. If we all work together now, we'll be helping to create a better environment for everyone.

Philippa Forrester, TV presenter, on behalf of British Gas's Think Energy campaign.

SIR - I moved to Bradford three years ago from County Durham. I sorely regret my decision. Since moving to this city I have become so unhappy that I have to take anti-depressants to help me cope.

I am 20 years old. I see only a bleak future for myself and my partner if we remain in Bradford, and our plans to start a family have been put on hold. I do not want my children growing up in the environment of this city.

Drugs, violence, racially-divided areas....the list goes on. The overall atmosphere of Bradford is one of despair, and when I wake up on a morning it's just another day closer to getting out of here. I wonder how many young people, couples and families feel the same?

Just recently I have been attacked twice, my house burgled and my car broken into twice. I feel like I'm being punished. All I came here to do was work, find a home and start a family.

M. Turner, Post Office Road, Eccleshill

SIR - David Barnett's report on election night was very fair and interesting. The only thing I disagreed with is that the BNP is not based on racial hatred. It hopes in time to stop all immigration and asylum seekers entering the country.

Stewart Williams, who stood for Idle, likes travelling around Britain and is a member of the RSPB and the National Trust.

He has a younger brother now serving in the Gulf. In the last Gulf War he had two brothers serving.

D Williams, Caythorpe Walk, Eccleshill.

SIR - Once again the animal rights activists attempt to discredit angling, this time by commissioning a report which, using unproven and unreliable techniques, has concluded that fish do feel pain.

Wrong. The lengthy and expensive study carried out by American scientists, with the backing of their Government, has proved conclusively that this is not the case.

However for those who prefer to rely on their own common sense, look at it this way.

Hook a fish in the mouth and it will, depending on its size and type, make long hard runs, pulling line off the reel under considerable drag pressure, and will do so again and again until it is finally netted.

Put a ring through the nose of a one-ton bull, and a five-year-old could lead it around, with the bull having no choice other than to meekly follow.

Work that out for yourselves.

The Government fully realises the value of angling and its potential as a way of keeping kids off the streets and away from drugs, crime etc.

The "ban everything" brigade would like to see us all given serial numbers and confined forever in our brick boxes, surfing the net and playing computer games!

Jim Gladden, Ashbourne Way, King's Park, Bradford 2.