SIR - In view of Bradford's goal to become European Capital of Culture, may I bring to your attention an incident that happened to my family on Friday, March 29, while pursuing a little culture.

We arrived in Bradford around 2pm, parked our car in a designated car park behind the Alhambra and paid the £3 parking fee.

We visited the Museum of Photography during the afternoon. Around 6pm we had a meal in an Asian eating house nearby, then we went to the Alhambra to see A Midsummer Night's Dream. We had a very enjoyable day.

We returned to the car to find the window smashed, the frame bent from levering out the glass and the radio prised out.

A pleasant day out was ruined with several hundred pounds worth of damage to our modest vehicle.

Are we going to feel like travelling into Bradford again to visit the theatres or anything else?

Many like ourselves on limited income cannot afford it if there is no protection against criminal damage to our property: no surveillance cameras, no police, no warden patrols.

What chance has Bradford got of becoming a Capital of Culture when it is a city of street crime?

Mrs Norma Gibbins, Booth House Lane, Holmfirth.

SIR - What a wonderful model of Manningham Mills (T&A, March 30) that is being refurbished at the Industrial Museum and provided with a full perspex cover. What a centrepiece for a display based on a preserved mill chimney in a visitor centre to provide a historical record of the area.

May I say yet again that we should save millions of taxpayers' money and demolish the mills so as to create what is actually needed here, namely affordable housing and buildings for small businesses that will generate local employment.

It is about time anyway that we took a serious look at what is currently proposed with the support of taxpayers' money - some 160 luxury apartments.

Does anyone seriously believe that there is a demand in this location for such a number of publicly-subsidised and expensive-to-run apartments? Surely not!

Has the same serious thought been given to what will happen if they do not sell? We all know there will be demands for yet more taxpayers' money to "save" the project - just like the Dome, Transperience and the Royal Armouries.

The pattern is all too familiar. A bad decision made in secrecy and behind closed doors generates yet more bad decisions.

R G Jennings, Priestley Hall, Lady Park Avenue, Bingley.

SIR - I am as horrified as anyone at the appalling loss of life in the Israeli/Palestinian conflict. I am also horrified at the amount of anti-Israeli rhetoric which it is now apparently fashionable to express. It reminds me of the anti-American rantings that we were forced to endure after September 11 and it disgusts me.

We even have to tolerate our own pathetic Jack Straw, pictured, getting cold feet and jumping on the "let's knock Israel" bandwagon. After years of suffering almost daily attacks, what does he expect the Israelis to do? Sit on their hands and say to the terrorists, "Please, continue to blow up our women and children as often as you like. We will just stand here and watch you!"

The insipid mouthings of armchair liberals and the bleating of misguided do-gooders must not distract us from the fact that these Islamic fanatics are cold-blooded, murdering terrorists who, given the opportunity, would do exactly the same to us in our country.

Dare I remind our noble Government that they have promised not to rest until all terrorists, under whatever guise, have been hunted down and destroyed. Or has that policy now been mysteriously altered and forgotten?

M Wood, Westercroft View, Northowram.

SIR - I am sick of hearing about "civilised countries" I wonder where they are? I can't see any. Can you?

A person or country can make a living or progress by either working hard or robbing and stealing.

America with its so-called alliance's support, has been looting, robbing and killing innocent defenceless people in any country it wishes for years, and like any thug or thief, it is proud of it.

Due to its defence superiority, either one joins it without any questions asked or is killed/destroyed for one excuse or the other. This is called civilisation, isn't it?

I would like to ask America and Europe what rights they had to give the homelands of Palestinians and Kashmiris etc to Jews and India.

If America or Europe love them so much, they should give part or whole of their homeland to them.

Finally, Bush Junior has to finish his father's job against Saddam Hussein. This war is against no one but Muslims.

Ms Mubarik Iqbal, Oulton Terrace, Bradford 7

SIR - May we inform all residents in East Bowling aged 60 years and over about a Safety Awareness Day that is being organised for Friday, April 26, at the East Bowling Unity Club. The event has been put together through the kind donations we at the East Bowling News have received.

Any senior citizens living in East Bowling who would like to secure a place should complete a reservation form and return it by Saturday, April 13. Forms can be obtained from King's Butchers in New Hey Road, the library in Flockton Road and Shades Hairdressers in Paley Road, or for group organisers by contacting one of the telephone numbers below.

Refreshments will be provided on the day, plus free transport if required. A free personal attack alarm will be given to the senders of the first 100 reservation forms received by April 13.

It is not too late for any business wishing to contribute to this worthwhile cause to do so. All donations are appreciated and the more funds we receive the more free alarms can be provided (tel: Bradford 392810 or mobile 07905143897)

A Rowntree, Brompton Road, East Bowling, and K Sharp, New Hey Road, East Bowling.

SIR - It was good to read that the different faiths in Bradford are to come together to demonstrate the progress made since the awful scenes last July. It is to be hoped that the media will report and portray a more positive image of this fair city.

However, I was dismayed to read that one of the places where they will stop as a mark of respect is the former site of the Labour Club in Whetley Lane, which of course no longer exists. Dismayed, because I drove past there recently and the whole area is littered with vast amounts of rubbish.

If Manningham is to be the focus of media attention again, but hopefully for more positive reasons, might I suggest a big clean-up before July.

Leah Corboz, Roundfield Place, Thornton

SIR - We have noticed in the T&A over the years that grants of millions have been allocated for youth clubs and the running of the youth service.

Yet services for the elderly are being cut. Is it not time that this Council put more effort into care of elderly and stopped a great deal of waste in the budget for youth?

Things have not got any better by pumping money into our youth system. You have only to check the T&A to see what yobs are doing all over Bradford, even with their own youth clubs.

The Fagley centre is closed a great deal of the time because the youth service state they cannot get qualified staff. If this is so put money into the elderly budget and close the centre because money spent over the years has not made anything better.

J R Smith (chairman, Fagley section, Retired Persons Action Group), Flawith Drive, Fagley, Bradford.