The British taxpayer will probably end up paying in excess of £12 billion to fund the cost of the 2012 Olympics which, at the end of the day, will only ever benefit the City of London.

Money which could be better spent on so many alternative worthwhile issues (victims of this year's floods, schools, the NHS, pensions etc). We are told this "two weeks" of sport is a prestigious event that will focus the eyes of the world on Britain, and show the rest of the world what Britain can do.

And yet, in another example of this rotten Government's covert activity, the Red Arrows have been privately told they will not be allowed to do a flyover at the games because "they are too British and it might offend foreigners".

I have to ask the question: what is the point of spending this amount of money to show the world what Britain can do if our own Government is ashamed of being British?

If you would like to sign a petition demanding that the Red Arrows are allowed to do a traditional "British" flyover at the games, you can do so online at http:/petitions.pm.gov.uk/redarrows2012/sign Alternatively, write to your MP.

Tony Taylor, Grassholme, Woodthorpe, York.