SIR - John Tempest must be devastated that the result of the sterling work he and his team do is reciprocated by the despicable theft of the Soup Run base.

I suggest that, as a replacement, he acquires a large, white, dome-shaped receptacle with protruding ironwork. His excellent work will then never lack massive Government and Lottery funding, will not require any level of professional financial control, will attract unwavering personal support from on high and will be celebrated as a monumental achievement of a dynamic and caring 21st Century society.

The only problem is, of course, no-one will want to go there !

John Tempest's approach shows just what can be achieved to improve critical aspects of our society with little more than a caring objective, enthusiasm and personal generosity, and he deserves all available support, from individuals, companies and the local authority, to overcome this incomprehensible setback.

Graham Hoyle, Kirkbourne Grove, Baildon.

SIR - You recently printed a letter from "an old girl" from Hutton School and I understand she had quite a good response.

I too have lived away from Bradford for over 30 years and often wonder where all those childhood friends have gone and what they did with their lives.

I went to Swain House School from 1951 (when five years old) and then on to Hutton until 1958. During those years I attended Bolton Villas Congregational Church and Brownie and Guide activities and youth club there.

I then went on to work in the Catering Department at St Luke's Hospital and did four-year day release City & Guilds at Usher Street College before the department moved to the Tech building in Great Horton Road.

I'd love to hear from anyone who shared any of these activities with me.

My parents owned the newsagents/ sweet shop on Kings Road and I was then Cynthia Calvert.

Cynthia Sidey, 128 West Park Drive, Nottage, Porthcawl, Mid Glamorgan CF36 3RN.

SIR - Mike Priestley is right about the financial difficulties facing many would-be students today (North of Watford, September 2).

However, more students are able to benefit this year from the government's Learner Support Funds.

These funds, normally non-repayable grants, offer eligible students in financial difficulties, following Further or Higher Education courses, substantial help towards their course costs eg uniform, materials, equipment, essential books and travel.

Many students with children can also get grants of up to 100 per cent towards child-care costs. More than 1,000 Bradford College students received help last year.

The new Educational Maintenance Allowance of up to £30 per week is available (via the Local Authority Student Support Services) to 16-year-olds coming to college (or staying at school) this year.

The pot is not bottomless. We can only distribute the money to those in most need while funds are available. It is still not too late to apply to study at college this year and we would encourage anyone thinking about coming to college to contact Student Services now about the financial support available.

The system is not perfect, but at least this Government is putting some money where its mouth is. Your readers may want to take advantage of it now.

Carole Moss, Head of Student Services, Bradford & Ilkley Community College.

Sir - I am pleased to inform you that the street collection in Shipley for arthritis research raised £602.03. I should like to thank everyone who gave so freely and also the small but gallant band of collectors who worked flat out all day to raise this amount.

Almost all of them are severely disabled by some form of rheumatic disease yet think nothing of standing for two, three, even four hours at a time, regardless of the fact that they know they will suffer for it later.

They are very special people and I am so proud of their friendship and support.

Elizabeth M Holbrook (Bradford Branch Hon Secretary, Arthritis Research Campaign), Bradford Road, Menston.

SIR - I'm sure Mike Priestley is right about Liam Fox's position on doctors speaking good English for the benefit of patients, but people will wonder why the Tories didn't come up with all these wonderful ideas when they had 18 years to put them into effect.

F Dickinson, Larkfield Road, Rawdon.

SIR - After reading the various letters about Asda selling Halal meat in their new superstore, I would like to say that like David Smith and others I find it abhorrent to kill by slitting the animal's throat and letting it bleed to death.

But I personally think it is wrong to kill any God-formed creature.

The irony about all this difference of opinion regarding painless killing is that we don't need meat to survive. We can get all the carbohydrates and protein from other sources where no suffering or killing is required.

If people could see what goes on behind the scenes and the cruelty that is done in the transporting and rearing of some of the food animals, they would go vegetarian straight away.

One could say they are only animals, but we are all animals and just because we are stronger physically and more intelligent doesn't give us the right to kill them.

Derek Wright, Westbury Street, Bradford 4.

SIR - In response to Mr Amin's letter (September 7). It is presumptuous of him to suggest that I find the "stunning" method of slaughter to animals as "perfectly acceptable", I do not.

I also am fully aware that Asda and other supermarkets sell meat other than Halal but that doesn't mean I buy it.

For a long time now I have, and still do, buy meat-free products. I detest cruelty to any animal in any shape or form and I have no intention of doing my own research on something I find distasteful.

David Smith, Musgrave Road, Eccleshill.

SIR - I am a volunteer at Cat Rescue. Without the work of Jenny or Brenda, Bradford would be overrun with cats. All the love and care they give the cats is heart-warming.

So I agree with D K Leggae. Maybe the neighbour should check her own drains for the smell.

Sarah Hayton, Kensington Street, Girlington.