SIR - Having marched alongside the two million peace campaigners in London on Saturday my respect and admiration for the British people has grown enormously. The peace protest was a unique experience for my children and me, and we will cherish the moment despite the clouds of war that still lie ahead.

By declaring war on Iraq, President Bush and Prime Minister Tony Blair will not only kill thousands of Iraqis but will fan the flames of religious fanaticism and terrorism, thus risking the lives of our children and citizens wherever they go in the world.

This war, in the words of the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Pope, Nelson Mandela, and all other decent people, will be unjust and immoral. Bush and Blair will be ignoring the voices of more than 90 per cent of the British public, and will make a mockery of western democracy.

I do not deny that there is much that is wrong with Iraq and much that is deplorable in the Muslim world, but I am absolutely fed up to the teeth with the manipulation and lies of Blair and Bush.

Dr Mohammed Iqbal, Grasleigh Way, Allerton

SIR - May I express an opinion on the Iraq situation and the position of the "anti" brigade.

Whether the war is just or not should be left to the Government. They are more informed than we are, and for our security they are not allowed to give every bit of information.

We live in a democracy and if we don't like what Mr Blair is doing then vote him out.

May I suggested the do-gooders demonstrate on the streets of Baghdad and urge Saddam to stand down for the sake of peace and the safety of Iraqi people.

All my life I have been patriotic and would have given my life for my country but looking round I don't see a country worth my life any more.

I just see a land full of do-gooders, criminals, illegal immigrants and many more selfish people.

Heaven help us when we have to rely on France and Germany's vote to protect innocent people from dictators. I am neither pro nor anti-Saddam but I say to Bush and Blair if you have the proof, go for it.

H Clough, Knowles Lane, Bradford 4.

SIR - The United States, on September 11, was at peace in the world when terrorists in planes filled with people crashed them into the twin towers in New York, killing thousands of innocent people. These lives were ended all because of an evil monster's hatred of American people. Terrorists like Bin Laden and Hussein need to be got rid of by an act of war.

Sometimes the good people have to die. The terrorists have started this evil war in America, and America and Britain will finish it.

Russia, Germany, Korea, China are all countries which have had criminal backgrounds in the past. My motto is for peace-loving people never to forget September 11 in America, and vote for war on Iraq.

Bill Hudson, Woodvale Close, Tyersal.

SIR - Here we go again. Bin Laden, as usual, has been resurrected in the media as he always is whenever Bush and Tony Blair want to fool the world leaders never mind the public to succeed in their evil plans/goals.

Iraq will never co-operate with them or the weapons inspectors unless Suddam Hussein leaves his country for them to rob it from top to bottom as they've been doing to the weaker countries for years.

Have Israel and India fulfilled their obligations to UN resolutions passed more than 50 years ago? The world leaders and the public at large must also be aware of the warmongers ( Bush and Blair) selling the mass-destructive weapons to their loved ones, Israel and India, who like them have been killing dozens of innocent men, women and children every day.

Bush and his puppet Blair have made the world unsafe. They're are nothing but a laughing stock and are no longer worthy to rule any country.

Mubarik Iqbal, Oulton Terrace, Bradford 7

SIR - Where do Councillor Eaton, right, and her cohorts expect council tax payers to pick up the money to pay an 11.5 per cent council-tax rise? I am an OAP and I've just got a £3 rise from May.

The Council want to get on to the Government if they want more police officers. As for fire-fighters, this ought to be funded entirely by the Government not partly by council tax payers.

As for money put aside for the Capital of Culture bid - forget it!

Council taxpayers are sick of this. My message is this: Vote out the existing councillors at the next election and get some real councillors in, people who will actually benefit the city, not posers like we have now.

Michael Breen, Bolton Hall Road, Wrose, Bradford.

SIR - In reply to Peter Wilson (Letters, February 10). He wrote that I believed it was better for one innocent person to die than 100 guilty ones to escape. He didn't mention I was talking about child molesters and killers and terrorists. I still believe the same today.

When I was in Europe in 1944, the Government promised us a land "fit for heroes to live in." At 80 years of age I am still waiting for it.

N Brown, Peterborough Place, Undercliffe.

SIR - After reading the report "Housing revamp sparks cash row" (February 10) I felt the need to air my views on the Regen 2000 scheme.

What a wonderful city we live in when so-called "gateways" have thousands of pounds spent on privately-owned homes - sandblasting, new garden walls, gutters etc, with owners only having to contribute a few hundred pounds.

I own my own home. I pay council tax. I would love some of the above benefits but my area rarely sees a road sweeper, has poor street lighting, potholes in the roads, not enough speed bumps and streets that could do with a touch of sandblasting too.

So why is it that the endless pot of money we read about is forever spent in the same areas? Does this not make for a divided city?

Maybe the powers-that-be at Regen 2000 could provide the residents of Barkerend and Leeds Road with more waste bins to deposit the litter and rubbish I see every morning which is cleaned up by an army of road sweepers daily only to magically reappear the next day.

Surely the residents have to contribute themselves to the image of the area? If not, all the Regen money in the world won't make any difference.

J Holdsworth, Poplar Grove, Bradford 7.

SIR - Bradford Council strikes again! At the same time as we hear of the threatened closure of Greenacres Residential Home we hear of another "expert" being hired with a salary of £100,000 a year.

How utterly depressing and how much higher are these salaries going to go? Is there any limit or is there some mysterious, bottomless money pit for hiring armies of consultants but nothing for the old folk?

These elderly people have probably lived, worked and paid their taxes in Bradford all their lives yet, just when they need help, Bradford turns its back on them.

At the same time as it is suggesting spending tens of thousands of pounds to turn our City Hall into a "cyber cafe" it cannot ensure a roof over the heads of its senior citizens.

M Wood, Westercroft View, Northowram

SIR - It is not long since cash-strapped Yorkshire Water was bleating for more money, stating that water charges must rise above the rate of inflation. Then I read in the T&A that they appear to have more than £1,000 of our money to spend on a Valentine Day's spree for two at the sewage works unless, of course, the directors are generously paying for this from their own pockets.

Incidentally anytime now the Council pamphlets will drop through the door explaining how they spend our council tax in great detail. Will they include the actual cost of our failed Capital of Culture bid which was obvious to most as a non-runner from the onset?

Elaine Neale, Gordon Terrace, Idle.

SIR - May I add my voice to the many people who write in support of Sir Ken Morrison and his charitable support.

This year Marie Curie Cancer Care is privileged to be the nominated charity of the supermarket. As well as allowing us to collect in stores, many members from all departments are doing their bit to support us. With their support we hope to raise in the region of £ million. We wouldn't be able to do this if it wasn't for the support of Sir Ken.

Brian Curran, Community Fundraising Manager, Marie Cure Centre, Maudsley Street, Bradford 3.