I WAS surprised to read the comments of Mr Thomas (Letters, November 20) regarding anti-social behaviour in Skelton.

I was fortunate enough to receive a briefing from Mr Thomas on this matter recently at one of my advice surgeries. Mr Thomas painted a black picture of the situation in Skelton, but he was not alone in doing so, as other members of Skelton Parish Council and residents suggest.

This is why I have taken up the case and am doing all I can to improve the situation for the honest, law-abiding residents of Skelton, with the help of North Yorkshire Police.

One hates to bring politics into it, but it is curious that the failed Liberal Democrat candidate for the Guildhall ward of City of York Council elections is using your newspaper to attack a Conservative MP. I can only assume Mr Thomas has changed his views on the situation in Skelton since visiting my surgery.

I do though entirely share his views that this is privatisation by the back door and the money spent on a community ranger would be better spent elsewhere, if only our police force were not being so short-changed by the Government.

I can not help thinking that crime in Skelton might be worse still if the Liberal Democrat policy to send fewer criminals to prison, allowing convicted burglars, car thieves and vandals to escape the threat of imprisonment, were ever implemented.

I am always prepared to discuss this matter further with Mr Thomas.

Anne McIntosh,

MP for the Vale of York,

Shadow minister for transport and environment,

House of Commons, London.

Updated: 10:13 Tuesday, December 02, 2003