WHAT a meaningless set of figures. Reader's Digest claims that the city of York is one of the worst places in North Yorkshire and in Britain to bring up a family (It's ridiculous! The Press, April 21).

Who have they asked, and on what basis, and how can anyone judge different towns and cities unless they have lived in or near them for several years?

York is not perfect. It has very little affordable housing, very few parking spaces, increasing crime and "yob" behaviour, and a council that wastes a lot of money. But there are very few places that I would rather live.

To be able to bring up a family successfully it is imperative that the area schools are good, that there are reasonable job prospects and that, for most of the time, everyone feels safe.

York meets these criteria on many occasions. I have lived most of my 61 years in York. My wife went to the University of York, my children went to primary school in Acomb and then secondary/grammar schools in York, both of which were excellent, and I have recently spent nearly two years as a volunteer teaching assistant in a York primary school, where the headmaster and all his staff were absolutely top notch professional people where 99 per cent of the children were well educated and very happy in their surroundings.

What more could anyone ask for?

As far as I am concerned York is most definitely a good place to bring up a family.

David Quarrie, Lynden Way, Holgate, York.