Now we hear that his friends are planning on murdering selected targets for their cause.

This kind of 'heroism' is more generally called terrorism. As for comparisons between this man and Jesus Christ, frankly I think that this is both blasphemous and obscene.

The Lord may have died for his cause, but he didn't murder and wasn't prepared to murder in this cause.

I too am opposed to vivisection as I feel that it is often barbaric and utterly unnecessary.

Even so, killing people to be 'kind' to animals is monstrous.

Name and address supplied

Keep the loos open

RECENTLY my partner and I walked into York and by the time we arrived at Micklegate we needed to go to the lavatory.

We went to the toilets in Toft Green only to find them locked. We then hastened to the Museum Gardens, legs nearly crossed, only to find them locked as well.

This seemed rather silly because there was a rowing event in progress on the river and a crowd on the bridge and along the river banks, obviously at some time needing a toilet. Why, on a busy Sunday afternoon, are the toilets closed?

Margaret Scott,

Albion Avenue,

Beckfield Lane,

York.

...I DO not often use the public toilets in York, but tried to do so last week. I refer to the riverside lavatories near Museum Gardens.

At 3.30pm the ladies' and gents' were both closed.The loos for the disabled were open, but the stench that met you at the door was unbelievable.

Having braved the entrance there was no light, the toilet itself was black. No one would have risked walking inside, let alone using it.

York spends money paying people to promote the city for tourism. Get the basics right first.

Anne Sweeton,

Barmby Avenue,

Fulford.

Come see our lights

THE great switch-on of York's Christmas lights has taken place, and I note with interest (Evening Press, November 25) that donations towards them have included a cheque from BAA McArthurGlen.

How very kind and generous of them, considering they have already put up and switched on our local all- year-round illuminations here at Fulford.

Perhaps the virtually empty designer outlet bus service could be used to bring people to see our very own light show.

Mrs D Worrall,

Cherry Wood Crescent,

Fulford,

York.

I blame politicians

Under the headline Selby Gets Switched On (Evening Press, November 27), two local politicians, supposedly representing Selby, get free advertising.

Please could we have more balanced reporting? Thousands of pounds have been spent, or wasted, without proper tendering.

Within a hundred or so feet of these ego-tripping politicians are empty houses. Empty at least in part because the actions of some Selby politicians who favoured a recent supermarket development project over the welfare of small shopkeepers and customers.

Marcus Gordon,

Micklegate, York.

Don't be so boring

HAVING read the report of the Civic Trust (Evening Press, December 1) I cannot believe that such a body has nothing better to do than to criticise the name of a pub.

It would be a boring world indeed if all such establishments were forced to have 'historical' names.

The world is evolving - move with it, Civic Trust. How about developing a sense of fun at the same time?

Colin Payne,

Westgate,

Old Malton.

Carols invitation

CALLING all former pupils and staff and friends of Queen Anne School.

The present pupils, PTA, governors and staff would like to send their Christmas greeting and invite you, one and all, to our 1998 Minster Carol Service.The service will be held in York Minster on Monday, December 14 at 7pm. Tickets are available from the school office.

So come along and join us in our celebrations, we look forward to seeing you.

Happy Christmas.

Keith Geary,

Hambleton Terrace,

Haxby.

Advice on benefits

Government figures show one in five older people are missing out on weekly benefits like Income Support.

Income Support is available to older people who do not have enough income to live on. Even if you are only entitled to a small amount, it will help you get other help such as housing and NHS costs and grants from the social fund.

Counsel and Care, a national charity for older people, has produced a free factsheet explaining who can claim and includes a simple check chart. To get one send a 9x6ins stamped-addressed envelope (31p) to me at the address below.

You can also ring our advice line (open weekdays, 10.30am to 4pm) about benefits. Ring 0845 300 7585 at the cost of a local call. Our trained advisers will also help you with any other problems you may encounter.

Meanwhile, don't miss out on benefits that may be due to you.

Amanda Mallone,

Counsel and Care,

Twyman House,

16 Bonny Street,

London.

NW1 9PG

Choice is drunks or tourists

THERE are two views on the licensing of extra pubs and bars in the centre of York, and especially the Micklegate area.

There are those like Al Fox (Letters, November 18) who want more of them, always seeing the latest licensing application as something fresh, new and different.

They regard the coach-loads who descend on York from distant towns, solely to get drunk, as welcome tourists bringing money to the city. And those of us who disagree are seen as old fogeys.

On the other side, most people, for whom Micklegate is their main route into town, think there are too many pubs already and strongly oppose more.

Most Friday and Saturday night revellers are only boisterous. But some are fighting drunk, and figures published by the police show that 97 per cent of assaults on the Micklegate Run are drink related.

Then there are the other problems. The police have been doing very well bringing before the magistrates people who have been urinating in public, but that does not stop our street being used as a public urinal at weekends.

If we are out late, we see car drivers staggering into a take-away, then back to their cars before throwing unwanted wrappings and food into the road. Alcohol is involved in a high proportion of weekend deaths on the road.

Hoteliers hear stories of tourists loving York until Saturday night then vowing never to return.

It is really a question of whether we want to attract these people to the city or the drunkards.

Ernest Rudd,

South Parade,

York.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.