SIR - In his letter of May 15, Don Burslam correctly stated that education, taxes and crime would be at the forefront of the election campaign (they always are!), but wrong to say that the "nuclear issue" had been half forgotten.

That may be in this country but not in the Far East. China has been bank-rolling Saddam and his friends for years. It is well known that these countries are far advanced in nuclear and armourment technology.

While defences in this country are being dumbed down, China and friends in the Middle East are arming themselves with the best in weaponry.

We are 600 pilots short in the RAF, government allegedly cannot afford fuel or armouring for the Fleet, and the Army are supplied with guns that jam when hot and poor communication systems.

Soon we shall be integrated into the European Army with HQ in Berlin while our own defences are absent or non-existent.

We may not agree with what Bush is doing but at least he is attempting to defend his country.

We should all be prepared for and aware of the Red Dragon.

D Higson, Cleckheaton Road, Low Moor.

SIR - I cannot believe that Leeds is going to close Otley All Saint Junior School! It's a brilliant school with an excellent staff providing children with the highest education.

It has a brilliant choir and orchestra in which my son takes part. What is going to happen to those? Do Westgate and Lisker Drive provide such music facilities? No, of course they don't. It has excellent sports traditions.

No other school in Otley provides such opportunities, facilities and expertise. And yet Leeds in all their wisdom have once again decided they know what's best for Otley.

Only the Parish Council have had the courage to oppose Leeds, believing the site of the junior school to be the best on which to establish a full primary C of E school.

Why are the teachers and pupils of Westgate more important than those at the junior school?

Are some teachers in Otley more important than others? Are some children in Otley more important than others?

I'm a parent with one of those less-important children, and I am furious!

Mrs Nicola Grubb, Caxton Road, Otley.

SIR - We are a local firm of haulage contractors operating a fleet of 25 vehicles. Diesel is one of our main expenditures and represents up to a third of our operating costs.

Last September, after years of trying to negotiate with Government, the Road Haulage Association and others took dramatic action to bring to their attention the plight which companies like ourselves were in.

The argument was that we were paying 65p per litre for diesel when at the same time foreign vehicles were paying 44p per litre.

They were filling up on the Continent with sufficient fuel to deliver into Scotland, reload, deliver into Wales and reload again for the journey home. They had no need to buy any of our 65p diesel or pay any of our road tax and all we were left with was their fumes.

While the resulting concession on vehicle excise duty for goods vehicles was welcome, it still has a long way to fall before it matches that of our continental competitors.

The General Election is looming and hopefully the candidates will promise to address the issue.

Chris Wright, chairman, Chris Wright (Baildon) Ltd, Otley Road, Baildon.

SIR - Some time ago, my wife entered a T&A competition, and won for the two of us two nights' bed and breakfast accommodation and rail fare to London staying at the Royal Lancaster Hotel, Hyde Park.

A beautiful hotel, apparently Thai owned, and even a Thai prince staying there at the time we were there.

We enjoyed our time there immensely, and it also gave us the opportunity to meet up with our son and his partner. We feel that a word of thanks is due to you.

K Brook, Willow Avenue, Bradford 2.

SIR - Under very recent legislation, a candidate in local, parliamentary and other elections must have the word "Independent" on the ballot paper, if that candidate is not nominated by a political party registered with the Electoral Commission.

To become registered is a complex procedure and costs £150.

This means local campaigns, action committees, idiosyncratic individuals with axes to grind etc cannot include a description of what they are standing for on the ballot paper.

For example, Eileen Allen who is very active in the "Defend Council Housing Campaign" and, who is standing in a local by-election in the Queensbury Ward on June 7, must use the mere label "Independent".

This works to cripple grassroot democracy and deny voters vital information.

Add to this the fact that to stand in a Parliamentary election now requires a deposit of £500 (which is forfeited if the candidate fails to secure five per cent of the vote) and elections are bound to lose local colour.

George Riseborough, Broad Left Against Blairism (BLAB) prospective parliamentary candidate for Bradford South, and Margaret Riseborough, election agent, Roper Lane, Queensbury.

SIR - I was delighted to see the article about the Shipley College Environmental Conservation students in your special Adult Learners Week paper. This NVQ 2 group has indeed been researching plants and animals that cause problems in wild areas by disturbing the ecological balance.

However, I was unfortunately misinterpreted. There are several non-native plant species that can cause ecological problems if they are not managed and Japanese Knotweed is one of these.

When I mentioned the rhododendrons at St Ives, it was as an example of another plant species that is very invasive and difficult to control. When these plants are left to spread, they take all light and nutrients, preventing growth and germination of our native wildflowers.

In St Ives the Council has been clearing areas of rhododendrons for a number of years to create a better balance of plants in these woodlands.

The NVQ 2 in Environmental Conservation course runs one day a week at Shipley and students take part in a range of projects with Bradford Countryside Service and other environmental organisation.

For more details contact me on Bradford 757238.

Sue Warren, Shipley College, Exhibition Road, Saltaire.

SIR - I would like to say a big thank you to the people who helped me last week when I fell on the escalator in Shipley Market, also to the paramedics Brian and Mark. Apart from bruising I am now OK.

Florence Saville, Ferncliffe Court, Saltaire.