SIR - The Pop Idol mania which is sweeping the country is too much.

Yes, Gareth has done really well and I am proud to have someone from my own town doing well in the pop industry, but when he has made his millions do we really believe that he will come back and settle here? I don't think so.

I have a son of 17 who is in Omagh at the moment. On February 22, he did his final passing out in Catterick and won an award for best shot. It was reported in the T&A as "Hot shot Will".

On the same page was a full length picture of Gareth.

Although, as I've said, I'm proud of Gareth, surely my son and lots of other young men who are the same age as Gareth are just as important and even more so because in a couple of years, maybe sooner, they will probably be in the troublespots of the world fighting for our country.

I really do feel that my son and other young men should have more recognition of what they are doing instead of all this publicity for people who can sing well.

D Dixon, Kelmore Grove, Woodside, Bradford.

SIR - Instead of welcoming new stop-and-search tactics by the police, Labour Councillor Sher Khan (T&A, March 11) believes that "it could lead to more tensions and problems." He also felt that people might feel that they are being targeted because of their colour.

The councillor is a perfect example of Asian politicians who will never admit to their own community's failings. There aren't any "tensions" in Bradford now anyway, thanks to the common sense of the judges in the riot cases.

If it was left to our politicians, we would probably be handing out compensation to rioters for strains and muscular pains due to the repetitive action of throwing petrol bombs.

As for Mubarik Iqbal, if she is so fed up of "racist" British people, I suggest she emigrates to Pakistan. On her way there, could she stop off at the Channel Tunnel and warn all the illegal immigrants risking life and limb to enter Britain not to bother, because of our intolerance.

I Khan, Leylands Lane, Bradford.

SIR - May I appeal through your newspaper to the selfish and ignorant motorists who persist in parking in parent and toddler spaces at supermarkets despite having no children with them.

People either don't understand the danger of trying to manoeuvre a very small child through a busy car park or simply don't care.

How sad. It's little wonder that communities have broken down when so little courtesy is shown to each other.

In my experience, the main culprits appear to be men in their 50s and 60s who are the very people often claiming to be shown no respect by young people.

It works both ways, gentlemen.

L Gallucci, Ivy Lane, Allerton.

SIR - This government is a sorry mess. We lurch into the future without vision, principle or hope.

The respected Joseph Rowntree Foundation has published research suggesting in the next 20 years there is going to be a massive housing crisis. Present and projected demand is vastly outstripping supply. The economics of private house building cannot keep pace with a growing demand for 200,000 new homes a year. We will be a million homes short by 2022.

It is predicted that there will be a knock-on effect in other public services. In London presently, the police, teachers and nurses are completely priced out of the market, and recruitment and retention of these key workers daily worsens.

Here in Yorkshire, future generations will face rent and/or house-price inflation as they compete for a toe-hold in the shortfall. The poorest will be squeezed the most.

Yet this Government is very busy abandoning any responsibility for decently housing the nation. The Rowntree Foundation research begs for direct State intervention and a coherent national policy.

George and Margaret Riseborough (Defend the Welfare State Against Blairism), Roper Lane, Queensbury.

SIR - It beggars belief that the elected reps in City Hall have the gall to chase Capital of Culture prestige and glory when Bradford is deteriorating day by day, with mob rule and "no go" areas increasing at the same speed.

Mind you, Bradford has plenty of culture! It has Mugging Culture, Riot Culture, Car Torching Culture, Robbing Culture, Arson-to-Premises Culture, Car-Jacking Culture, Drug Culture, and to capitalise on these, we now have Curfew Culture.

Oh, yes, we have plenty of culture - all negative!

The Culture Secretary cannot award Bradford the "prize" as it has to be won on merit, not on propaganda, and if she makes the mistake of awarding it to Bradford, she will condone all the above-mentioned unlawful practices.

Derek Wright, Westbury Street, Bradford 4.

SIR - Is it a sign of a Capital of Culture that our wheelie bins say "No Hot Ashes, Please" but other places just say "No Hot Ashes"?

Rev D F Hudson, Netherlands Square, Low Moor

SIR - I would like to express my sincere thanks to everyone involved in the Schools Proms 2002 at St Georges Hall on March 14, specially the teachers, instructors, conductors and all the young people who took part. Altogether, they made up a very enjoyable musical evening.

The children were so well-behaved and obviously dedicated to their particular roles, be it vocal or instrumental. Thank you all.

I came away feeling the musical future looks very bright for Bradford.

Keep up the good work.

Vera Wright, Main Street, Wilsden.

SIR - Re the letter from A Milne on seat belts (March 15) and prosecutions. My grand-daughter went for some petrol to Nab Wood filling station, then had to go up the road opposite 400 yards to her boyfriend's on a dark night.

She had hardly set off when there were flashing blue lights behind.

A constable and a WPC got out. She had forgotten to fasten her seat belt.

Out came a £30 fine, no warning.

So you see, Mr Milne, some of the community do get fined.

C A Charnock, Woodcot Avenue, Baildon.

SIR - People forced out of their homes by ten-year-old thugs, the police totally ineffective. On the other hand, a concert of Madam Butterfly watched by head-in-the-clouds so-called dignatories.

Definitely a difference of culture in Bradford. One half does not know how the other half have to live and also does not care.

Andy Bairsto, Ravenscliffe Avenue, Bradford 10.