AS a very occasional reader of the Evening Press, I had missed any advance publicity about the paper's new look. It was a great surprise to buy a copy by chance and find the Evening Press is now lively and informative.

Rather than feeling let down by the contents, I bought a copy the next day and the next.

It could easily become a habit. However, as Lenin said, you can't make an omelette without breaking eggs. It was sad to read of the distress of a reader who couldn't find the personal announcements in their old place on page two (December 5).

A fair number of we old people like to make sure our own name doesn't appear in the deaths' column, before deciding if it is worth our while to read any further.

I see you publish an index on the front page for the benefit of those of us who take this eminently sensible precaution. If I'm in doubt I shall refer to that in future.

Viv Wellburn,

Milner Street, York.

...I HAVE enjoyed reading the Evening Press for 50 years but haven't enjoyed the past week or so when I have had to search to find the deaths column and weather.

Deaths have been on three different pages within seven days and on Saturday moved back to page two.

Can we please have them there permanently and have no more of this meddling with a good product. The truest saying is: "If it ain't broke, don't mend it."

Martin Durham,

Cherrywood Crescent,

Fulford Road, York.

Editor's footnote: We are indebted to all our readers who contacted us about the new-look Evening Press.

You responded favourably to our extended letters section, our daily business page, the new daily diary and our new twenty4seven entertainments magazine.

But you also let us know quite forcibly just what you thought about our personal announcements section moving to the back of the newspaper - and we listened.

That popular section is now back home on Page 2 - exactly where you wanted it.

Updated: 12:28 Wednesday, December 10, 2003