SIR - As a non-driver, I am becoming concerned at the number of drivers in the Bradford area who are not wearing seat belts.

It has been law since 1983 for all drivers and passengers to wear seat belts. In 1987 legislation was brought in for all children under the age of 14 years to be in car seats, booster seats or seat belts, but I have seen young babies sitting in the front passenger seat on an adult's lap, children standing up between the driver's and front passenger seat, and a family of one adult and six children, with not a seatbalt in sight.

I have felt so strongly about this and done a survey at work (I am a Practice Nurse) and one in Mothercare store. I am at present doing a Diploma in Health Studies and guess what my project is? Yes, seat belts.

Could you please bring this subject matter to enlighten the general public, and remind them, too, that midwives in Bradford would appreciate all new-born babies being taken home in car seats.

Come on Bradford, belt up!

Mrs M Singleton, Thomas Fold, Bradford 2.

SIR - Oh dear, the petrol problem is here again. Despite the banner headlines, do we really think the Tories might do better with the problem?

I suppose Mr Hague would be solving the foot and mouth crisis too - just like he helped solve BSE/VCJD when he was in government (joking, of course).

Keep a sense of proportion - people will survive. In the Thatcher years the main worry was keeping warm in winter. Today petrol prices.

Some difference.

F Dickinson, Larkfield Road, Rawdon.

SIR - My heart does go out to all the farmers with what they have to go through. However, one has to wonder if the Government has got it right about foot and mouth.

Is it gripped by old-fashioned ideas and response to a disease that will without doubt come back at some time in the future?

There seems to be serious health risks from burning dead animals, due to dioxin levels. There also seems to be health and environmental problems from burying carcasses.

It is widely accepted that foot and mouth holds little risk to humans.

Why therefore was it not possible to slaughter the animals for food? The meat could have been frozen. It could have been given away to the needy. It could have been sent to poorer countries. Freezing the meat would kill the foot and mouth virus.

Maybe I am missing something here, but this method would have saved billions in taxpayers' money. It would have avoided polluting the atmosphere. It would have avoided polluting our waterways from buried animals.

All this slaughter and pollution does seem a very big waste.

B. Kearns, Halifax Road, Bradford 6.

SIR - Mencap, the UK's leading charity working with people with a learning disability, is organising an eight-day, 420km cycling adventure along the River Nile in Egypt.

I'd like to invite your readers to saddle up in support of Mencap and take part in this fantastic adventure. Mencap simply ask them to pay a £250 personal contribution and raise a minimum amount of sponsorship. After that, flights, accommodation on a Nile cruiser, meals and bikes are all included.

The ride takes place in February 2002 and Mencap is seeking cyclists and non-cyclists to take up the challenge. It's a chance to get fit and make new friends while doing something different for a really excellent cause.

Please call (0845) 9777779 to receive your free Nile Bike Ride pack or write to The Nile Bike Ride, Mencap, Freepost, London, EC1B 1AA. You can also e-mail Mencap at events@mencap,org.uk.

Jo Brand, c/o Mencap, Golden Lane, London, EC1.

SIR - You recently published a letter from a reader which purported to illustrate the advantages of our being a member of the EU. He was referring to umpteen millions of pounds being allocated to Bradford by Europe.

The Commission and Europe have no money of their own. The UK is a net contributor to European funds and therefore the money is ours - yours and mine.

Isn't it scandalous to suggest that if we did not contribute to the European coffers, this caring New Labour administration of ours would not spend money thus saved on the same good works as Europe does?

And if we did not contribute, the full value of our contributions could be expended in worthwhile causes.

I am all in agreement with the pros and cons being set out providing that the pros do not include the amounts doled out to us from our own net contributions.

P E Bird, Nab Wood Terrace, Shipley.