SIR - The recent debate initiated in Mike Priestley's North of Watford column, as to whether the Bradford Beck should be converted into a water feature in our city centre is an interesting one which has been raised many times, and few people would disagree that it would greatly enhance our civic landscape.

The problems - apart from cost - are that the Beck is well below street level and that its waters are seriously contaminated. Samples taken over the years have revealed traces of typhus and of Weill's Disease (caused by rat infestation), and where the Beck is open to view at Valley Road, Shipley, the Council has had to warn everyone to keep clear of it.

However, if these major problems could be overcome, and if large sums of money could be found, the Beck could be on view in at least two central locations - the site of the old Ive Bridge at the bottom of Ivegate, and in the forecourt of Forster Square Station which was the original Broad Ford.

There is no doubt that the waterways in the centre of York and Lincoln are a great natural asset to those cities, and as far as Bradford is concerned, it is worth considering.

Councillor Stanley King, Heaton Road, Heaton.

SIR - One of the Council's current publicity slogans promoting Bradford's bid for the Capital of Culture award is "Oh ye of little faith."

The use of Christ's admonishment is a timely warning. A story by Hans Christian Andersen entitled The Emperor's New Clothes has interesting parallels.

The story is about an Emperor who had been convinced by his officers that his new clothes were fantastic but in reality they did not exist and he was naked. Everyone, including the Emperor, wanted to be held in high regard and praised the new clothes (including the media). Those who told the truth were ridiculed and persecuted.

In the end a child, who had nothing to lose, cried "The Emperor has no clothes."

Those in Bradford who wish to challenge the status quo and voice an opinion regarding the "Emperor's lack of clothes" by suggesting that current policies regarding crime, education and drug misuse are not working, may face similar consequences.

However they need not feel guilty, for those who lack "true faith" are not the individuals who continue to shine a light on the despair of the vulnerable and exploited of this city, but those in power who chose to ignore it.

Les Vasey, Temple Rhydding Drive, Baildon

SIR - As a hunt supporter I was interested and intrigued to read the recent letters from Sid Brown and others regarding hunting with dogs. All claim it to be cruel, all claim to have the welfare of animals at heart.

Daily in slaughterhouses around the UK thousands of sheep are killed by the knife. There is no pre-stunning, the terrified animal is tipped on its back, its throat is slashed and it bleeds to death.

If these recent anti-hunt correspondents had any concerns for animal welfare then surely one would expect to see more humane methods of slaughter high on their list of priorities, not just hunting with dogs, but somehow it never is.

I question the motives of these people. I believe they are purely social and political, born out of socialist beliefs. They perceive hunting to be a sport of the wealthy and privileged, something it is not.

If they are not vegetarian I would ask them, when they next tuck into their lamb biriani or lamb tikka masala, to spare a thought for their provider and how it met its demise. Maybe then they will get their priorities in the right order.

Peter D O'Malley, Heaton Drive, Baildon.

SIR - I was surprised that there has been no reference in the Press to the Bradford vicar (shades of the abdication here I think!) who has offered unsolicited advice to Posh and Becks, above, regarding the possible christening of their sprog.

It is a while since I opened my Bible but somewhere in there, if the good vicar would like to refer to his "text book", there is a situation where the disciples are trying to prevent children from getting close to Jesus and Jesus says "Suffer the children to come unto me".

I don't remember Him adding: "But only if they are C of E, and their parents truly believe".

Phil Boase, Elizabeth Street, Wyke

SIR - I was reading the reports on all the parents who got on-the-spot fines for their children not wearing seatbelts. They should make sure their children have their seatbelts on when they know it's the law.

But it's not just children who don't wear them. I have seen plenty of young people driving around without seatbelts on and children as young as two to three years standing up in the back of their parents' cars.

It should be law for everyone to wear a seatbelt whether they are taxi drivers or drivers of any other vehicle. If a taxi was in a bad collision what's to stop the driver going through the windscreen? Yet they don't have to wear seatbelts.

D. Marshall, Farleton Drive, Fagley, Bradford.

SIR - What a superb effort from the Bradford Thunderbirds Women's Rugby League team to win this season's Premier Division Championship and the League Cup Final (T&A April 4).

Founder members of the Women's League in 1985, for the last 17 years the Thunderbirds have single-handedly kept alive the sport in the city, creating opportunities for women and girls to compete and play Rugby League at the highest level, representing county and country. Well done ladies.

R J Lacey, Wrose Road, Bradford.

SIR - Re a recent letter about Queensbury and all its filth. Great Horton has suffered all these things for quite a large number of years. Take-away cartons half full of curry and chips, salad etc left on your wall stinking and not nice to get up to early in a morning. Also three-quarters of what they have eaten left down the wall and on the footpath.

I hope the Queensbury writer is more successful than I have been at getting these problems solved.

D Burnett, Great Horton Road, Bradford 7.