STRANGE vowels are being used as utility sounds by ITV and BBC presenters attempting to create an illusionary calture garp between themselves and their ordinary down-to-earth listeners in the North East from Hal parst Newcarstle and beyond.

With a haughty "Caming ap soon from Hal" or an even more snobbish "Carming arp soon from Harl" from sam newscarsters, as if in fear of losing their jobs if they don't comply, our rich north eastern dialects are discarded as they try to convert us into accepting their silly posturing as proper.

Pass becomes parse and mass marse. The U sound is almost forgotten as up, much, touch, could and come suffer the same unkind treatment.

Why don't those who must be obeyed and never arccept critism arsk their listeners and viewers what they think about the subject?

George Appleby,

Leighton Croft,

Clifton,

York.

Updated: 11:11 Friday, April 16, 2004