SIR - Your readers will no doubt be aware of the peaceful protests in the form of slow-moving convoys, of mainly heavy goods vehicles, which took place last Thursday morning as part of the countrywide protests by people and businesses concerned with their economic and financial survival against the stance taken by the present Government over our long-held, oft-stated and (even by Mr Blair) acknowledged rightful concerns.

We would, however, like to record our thanks to the police officers from both the Keighley and Bradford areas who escorted the parades along the pre-advised and agreed routes.

Perhaps, more importantly, we would like to thank the overwhelming majority of the public who not only tolerated the disruption to their morning routines, but demonstrated, with their good humour, applause, "thumbs-ups," headlight-flashing, horn-tooting, waving, etc (and a few cups of tea en route!) that the groundswell of public opinion was with us on the day.

This would appear to be contrary to the opinion which many people would have the general public believe, preferring to brand us as anything from right-wing activists to people who just don't care about others.

There could be nothing further from the truth.

The Bradford & Keighley Road Hauliers, c/o J W Wilson & Son, Granby Street, Wakefield Road, Bradford.

SIR - Why should it be that when we have a tragedy, catastrophe, disaster, misfortune or whatever, the scum oozes out of the nadir of humanity?

I refer to an article in Saturday's edition of the T&A.

During the petrol shortage, some mutation of mankind cut the fuel line of an innocent person's car, to steal a few litres of petrol, leaving the remainder to flow on to the road surface, creating a fire hazard.

Some act of valour. Some achievement. This was not the only case. Apparently other similar offences have been recorded in the area.

What is it about some Bradfordians that they set their sights so low? Bradford's citizens didn't used to behave in this manner. What has happened to our city and its people? Can anyone explain?

J Lewis Nicholl, Plumpton Gardens, Wrose.

SIR - How our society has changed. I visited my local supermarket in Bingley last week. It was nauseating. People grabbing food as if there were no tomorrow. One lady purchased 12 loaves of bread - more than Jesus had to feed the 5,000.

The petrol crisis certainly brought out some strange displays of human behaviour and hasn't renewed my faith in human nature one jot.

Barry Foster, Gilstead Lane, Bingley.

SIR - It has been an interesting few days. We have had an unknown chap in T-shirt and jeans saying something on TV on the lines of "If Blair doesn't talk to us and reduce tax on fuel within 60 days, all deliveries from the refineries will stop".

The Prime Minister of Great Britain must not yield to a group of men, elected by nobody. We must live in a democracy.

A TV poll established that over half the population would be willing to see the sick and the old die in order to reduce the tax on petrol and fuel.

Were it not for some of those old, we would all be speaking German, and any talk about pickets round fuel refineries would result in a lot of us nursing cracked heads.

Is it the Millennium Bug, do you suppose?

Jack Mawson, Grove House Crescent, Bradford 2.

SIR - The fuel crisis was caused by our own greedy Government. Every time Labour rule this country, it is petrol, tobacco and spirits that are all heavily taxed.

Over this past week, I have walked everywhere I could, and supported the hauliers in their protest, not even rushing out to buy petrol or extra food. We have made do.

I hope the hauliers will call this Government to ransom again then perhaps we all will wake up and see how our own MPs are ripping us off.

Mrs L Jowett, Norbury Road, Ravenscliffe, Bradford.

SIR - Until discussions on the subject made me aware of the massive daily consumption of petrol and diesel oil in this country, I had no idea just how much revenue the government generates from its tax on fuel.

Experts seem to agree that eight pence per litre off the price of petrol could easily be afforded without putting the Treasury under any undue pressure and this should be done immediately to restore any credibility to the situation.

Oil companies who distribute the fuel should be forced to freeze their prices at the present rate, putting up with any loss of revenue they may have sustained over the past few days, and garage sharks who have taken advantage of the shortages, charging the public extortionate prices, should be prosecuted.

N Wilson, Hollingwood Lane, Bradford 7.

SIR - If I happened to be a businessman buying a product for £1, then with virtually no effort selling it on for £4, I would consider I was making a very easy 300 per cent profit.

If on the other hand I was the supplier, I would be doubting either my sanity or business acumen.

Surely the oil producers must have been thinking along these lines. How can we really expect co-operation from them?

The Western world with its selfishness and lack of foresight brings trouble on itself.

P H Stephens, St Stephen's Road, Bradford 5.