SIR - I refer to the "Radical plan to cut teenage pregnancies" which advocates oral sex. I am appalled this project is being backed by health and local authorities.

As a Christian grandmother I am deeply upset at the erosion of moral values in this country. Parents and teachers cannot be blamed and I'm sure many will be appalled and upset at the implications of this scheme.

Discipline is unheard of and the attitude "let's do just as we like because our parents and teachers cannot do anything to stop us" prevails.

Perhaps peer pressure is the biggest influence in this respect but where do they get their attitudes from?

Is it a breakdown in family relationships, TV (what censorship is there?), films or newspaper revelations of the sordid "private" lives of some of the world's famous personalities?

Perhaps these are aspects which need looking into if we are to make this country a better place for our young people. Please let us all strengthen the values of high moral standards, decency and caring before it is too late.

Jean Sands, Moorland Crescent, Baildon.

SIR - I am writing in response to the article by Claire Lomax about the Government's project to reduce teenage pregnancies by encouraging experimentation with "levels of intimacy", including oral sex, instead of intercourse (T&A, February 25).

Can somebody please tell me just how far the health and education "professionals" are going to sink in to the abyss of depravity? Not content with providing the "morning-after" pill to girls as young as 11, without parental consent, (but hey kids, don't do drugs), here they are embarking upon another scheme which must terrify and revolt any concerned parent.

The project is called "A Pause." I think it would be better to give it "A Rest" and put an end to this vulgarity.

Kate Nisbet, Moorlea Drive, Baildon.

SIR - What has happened to the Throstle's Nest of old England (ie Bingley)? Thirty-seven years ago I left Bingley to live in Australia, and I came back for a holiday to find a dirty town which in my opinion no-one would live in given the chance to leave it.

As I walked around the town I found black garbage bags full of rubbish thrown over the river bank at Ireland Bridge and elsewhere.

When this new road is finished Bingley will be a ghost town as there will be no-one stopping to buy anything from the shops. This has happened to some places in Australia.

There are not many shops trading now so what chance is there for improvement?

Bingley is not the Throstle's Nest any more. It is like the old song Dirty Old Town.

My apologies to the people of Bingley, I feel for you.

Betty Dickinson, Gerald Street, Belmont, New South Wales, Australia.

SIR - In the report "Councillors' fury at pin-sticking" (T&A, February 18), reference was made to the role of Professor Colin Mellors of Bradford University.

Just to clarify the position for your readers, Colin Mellors is a member of the Boundary Committee for England. However, in line with the committee policy, to avoid any potential conflict of interest, Colin left the meeting during the committee's consideration of its draft recommendations for Bradford and took no part in the discussions. He has therefore had no involvement in the committee's review of the city.

I should be grateful if you could draw this letter to the attention of your readers.

Archie Gall director, The Boundary Committee for England, Great Peter Street, London SW1.

SIR - I am trying to contact anybody who went to school with me many years ago.

It is exactly 50 years ago this year that we started secondary education at the Priestman School, Southfield Lane, Marshfields, Bradford, and it would be lovely to hear from anybody who was in the same year, just for a chat, or, if there is sufficient response and interest, maybe a reunion in Bradford later this year.

Some names I remember are David Garner, David Verity, Peter Addison and Jim Smithers. On the girls' side I remember Pat Turner, Margaret Smith and Sandra Parkinson.

Is there anybody out there who can help find some of the class of '53? I can be contacted on e-mail at gbalmforth@hotmail.com or c/o 399 Bowling Old Lane, West Bowling, Bradford BD5 8HN.

Grenville Balmforth, Almeria, Spain

SIR - A full-page ad in the T&A on March 7 for the White Rose Centre reveals that it offers free parking, which many town and city centres don't. So what?

Parking in Bradford is fairly inexpensive - NCP £2 for up to four hours, Jacobs Well £1 for three hours, Kirkgate Centre £1 for two hours or £1.50 for three.

So White Rose offers free parking. But it lacks fresh air and room to manoeuvre among all the pushchairs and large crowds. And the retail choice is virtually the same as Bradford's.

I've said it before, and I'll say it again; forget the White Rose and support your local shops in Bradford. It's a far better place to shop.

Try it. You just might enjoy it.

Jack MacPherson, Killinghall Road, Bradford.

SIR - In reply to Dr Iqbal (Letters, March 5). His assumption that I am in favour of war is as accurate as his claim that a march of two million represents 90 per cent of the population. I am not in favour of war but believe that it may be the lesser of two evils.

In answer to some of the points he raises.

l The threat of war is to prevent Saddam maintaining and developing weapons and posing a future threat. It is only since threats became serious that he has admitted the weapons inspectors.

l As far as links with al Qaida, nobody, not even Americans, believes that is what this is about.

l I agree that Israel should respect UN resolutions. If Dr Iqbal has a suggestion that can bring a compromise settlement there he may win a Nobel Peace prize.

l I also deplore the US's action in Vietnam but because they were wrong that does not affect the situation in Iraq at all. Space prohibits me from answering points re Japan and North Korea.

If we all stand firm behind Blair and Bush then perhaps Saddam will implement resolution 1441 fully without any further bloodshed.

Derrick Hargreaves, Middlebrook Crescent, Fairweather Green, Bradford

SIR - Let's not get too misty-eyed about Karl Dallas and his human shield gesture in Iraq. Fanatical politicos like him may be deemed heroic, but it's all about their political egos and ideology replacing their brain cells.

The doyens of the Left always condemn the so-called imperialism of the US and Great Britain, while having an overwhelming sentimentality for all things Islamic. In these circumstances it is entirely predictable that Dallas would take the action he has done.

However, if he was a true paragon of virtue as far as peace and justice is concerned he could have been a human shield between Mugabe's barbarians and the white farmers of Zimbabwe.

The fact that he wasn't epitomises the way peacenicks are so selective in the issues they dabble in.

But while he is beguiling the local Iraqis people with his peace songs, shouldn't he be challenging those of them who danced in the street on September 11?

Reg Nelson, Westfield Road, Heaton.

SIR - I read in the T&A that a Karl Dallas and dozens of other people have gone to Iraq to form human shields. I take it they won't be allowed back into Britain, as in my day this would have been treason punishable by death.

But hold on a minute. We have a Labour Government with their human rights issues and a council as barmy. They will probably be given a heroes' welcome ontheir return and a medal each.

You couldn't make it up, could you?

David Holmes, Crestville Terrace, Clayton.

SIR - Three cheers for Philip Davies, right, Conservative candidate for Shipley (Letters, March 7). It's about time us ordinary folk in Bradford had a champion to represent the silent majority view on the things that are affecting us.

Though the liberal Left are bound to criticise his views on asylum seekers he is only echoing what is being said in the homes, mosques and pubs of Bradford.

Damn right we should look after our older folk who have more than paid their dues, and surely our kids need every opportunity they can get to give them the chance of a decent future.

Dave James, Fletton Terrace, Undercliffe