SIR - On Saturday, August 24, I caught the 640 bus from town to the Mecca Bingo Hall. It is normally 15p but the driver asked for 20p. I did not argue and put my purse (as I thought) into my bag. Later I was in a panic as the purse was not there after I got off the bus. I did not know how I was going to get home.

From then on this 80-year-old had courtesy with a capital "C". The "Beach" manager in Centenary Square politely suggested the police station, where they courteously suggested I went to the Interchange.

There, a tall, ginger-haired fellow took charge of me and whisked me upstairs to the manager's office. The manager insisted I sat down and had a drink, took all details, gave me 40p for the fare home and asked the ginger-haired man to take me all the way to the Clayton bus. He also gave me a note for the driver not to charge me more than 20p.

I was given a phone number for Lost Property. Nothing was too much trouble for these "Knights of the Road". I hope good luck comes to all these gentlemen whenever they need it.

Incidentally, my purse was returned to the First Bus offices.

Joyce Horan, Pasture Walk, Clayton.

SIR - That was an impressive and welcome list of 100 reasons the T&A published on August 22 to support the European Capital of Culture bid and I am sure you will be receiving suggestions of those you have missed. How about these two for a start towards the next 100 reasons?

The first is the Commonwealth Collection, a unique and internationally important public library focused on the Gandhian principle of non-violent approaches to social change, and the second is in the same vein and highlighted in the Ouseley report.

The Interfaith Education Centre is now almost 20 years old and is nationally unique in the work it does in bringing the communities and schools together in supporting the religious education of children and young people.

Councillor Keith Thomson, Heights Lane, Bradford 9.

SIR - "Mindless vandalism" shouts the front page of the T&A (August 27). Crazy vandals attack city schools, breaking windows and causing other damage.

Meanwhile in the city centre opposite City Hall, Provincial House stood stripped bare, hundreds of huge plate-glass windows smashed out, an orgy of destruction had been carried out as it awaited Semtex Sid to blow it up.

Elsewhere in the city, houses and flats have been bulldozed and now many schools, unwanted by the new review but valued by the community, await a similar fate.

Of course the destruction on one hand is official and on the other vandalism, but the final effect is similar. And do the impressionable and immature people known as vandals know the difference?

Could it be a case of let's follow the example of our betters?

R J Lacey, Wrose Road, Bradford 2.

SIR - Further to my letter regarding the euro. The reply by Peter Wilson ignored my most important part.

Fortunately I can count above ten. I grew up at a time before decimalisation, a time when one could work to base 2, 3, 5, 8, 12, 14, 16 20 - yes, even 5 when required - just as easily as people today can count to ten.

He sounds to me like he has some kind of business going and wants to be in the front line for the excessive profits which come from currency change.

I am informed by a reliable source that holidaymakers who visit Spain from France, Germany and Ireland complain about the euro and give the impression they regret the changeover. This is also a reaction from the Spaniards.

The businesspersons don't seem to mind, it's only the people.

J Lewis Nicholl, Plumpton Gardens, Wrose.

SIR - We have been told that the new proposals to ban the use of mobile phones while driving will apply even if the car is stationary, so taking the call later after stopping may still break the law if you are on the highway and in the driving seat.

A valid use for a mobile phone is to phone through that you will be late for an appointment when you are stuck in a traffic jam. It would be reasonable to allow the use of a phone if the car is stationary with the handbrake applied.

If that is too liberal for the law-makers then perhaps they could allow it if the engine is switched off as well! Unless motorists accept that the new law is reasonable, it will fall into disrepute.

R G Tee, Foxholes Crescent, Calverley.

SIR - The death penalty was suspended in Britain in 1948 and subsequently in 1957. It is a criticism, but not a final and conclusive argument that after going through material facts and evidence of the murders of Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman the death penalty should be restored in the interest of justice for innocent children and their parents.

Paedophilia is a dangerous crime. It raises a very important question for the general public at large about life imprisonment: why should individuals who commit such crimes be maintained at the expense of taxpayers throughout their life?

Javed Patel, Tewitt Close, Steeton.

SIR - It is to be wondered whether those who are now complaining of the harsh sentences given to the Manningham rioters would consider any custodial sentence as justified?

A certain lawyer is claiming that the sentences are racially motivated, as the Manningham rioters are apparently being treated more harshly than those in Ravenscliffe.

However in 1995, rioters escaped punishment as a political decision was taken to exercise leniency, when normally imprisonment would have followed.

While the Ravenscliffe disturbance was on a small scale and contained, the effects of the Manningham riots were far-reaching. There was large-scale destruction of property, injury to more than 300 policemen, attempted murder and the reputation of the city being irreparably tarnished.

It is now time that the guilty accept their responsibility, and not rely on the impressions of people like Lord Ouseley.

Alec Suchi, Allerton Road, Allerton.

SIR - Once again the BBC Six o'Clock News (August 22) gave yet another biased misrepresentation of Bradford racial disharmony.

Neutral listeners will have formed the opinion that the Muslim riot in July was matched by a white outrage in Ravenscliffe, giving succour to the Muslim protesters who think that the Islamic rioters have been treated unfairly.

Brief mention was made of the £10 million damage, but no mention was made of the fact that all of it was selective, every penny resulting from vandalism was to non-Muslim businesses.

Whenever dignitaries arrive in Bradford a visit to leaders in Manningham is considered of paramount importance. When were VIPs ever taken to Thorpe Edge, West Royd, Valley Road or Hirst Wood?

Les Brotherton, Caroline Street, Saltaire.

SIR - We have the same traffic bother as Denholme. Thornton Market Street is a one-way street, but at times no-one would know. Cars race the wrong way down and branch off at Sapgate Lane. How there has never been an accident is a miracle.

Each weekend we have a motorcyclist (no helmet) going up and down. The noise is tremendous.

If Denholme has got a traffic warden the place is lucky. We can't move for cars parked on both sides of the street.

The village street was quiet on Sunday and Wednesday afternoons when the shops were closed, but not any more.

Veronica Farnell, Market Street, Thornton.

SIR - I was disgusted to read in the Telegraph & Argus that the River Aire may be used to dump Hindu and Sikh funeral remains. Not only is it wrong but surely it would not be allowed for English people to do this. At times of drought the river water is sometimes used for drinking water. I am sure the Hindu and Sikh people would not want to drink this water.

D Wilson, Barkerend Road, Bradford 3.