I WAS appalled to read the report of the nightmare suffered by the two Westerby girls (Evening Press, March 10).

As the father of two daughters, the youngest ten, and grandfather to three young girls, my sympathy goes to the two sisters. I hope the girls will be able to eventually put this behind them and they are able to go on to enjoy a rewarding life without further fear.

However, answers are required.

What are 12 and 13 year old girls doing on their own in an area on the outskirts of the city on a Friday close to midnight?

I've dropped my youngest daughter at the cinema there to watch a movie with friends during the afternoon, but I was waiting outside to pick them up and get them home safely.

Their mum may be furious, but is she angry with the assailants, or herself for allowing her young daughters out so late at night on their own, only to find for themselves a taxi home?

The comments by the head of security at Tesco give a feeling of shunning responsibility towards the community - not our problem, the car park isn't ours, we employ a security firm etc.

Mike Smith,

Middlethorpe Grove,

Dringhouses, York.

...WHILE reading the Evening Press across the Internet from Australia, it amazed me at the story of the attack on the two young Westerby girls.

It is disgusting to find that they have been attacked, and I sincerely hope they recover from the ordeal.

I am more amazed at the mother of these children allowing them out at such a late hour.

While you might criticise me for my comments from so far afield, I am a mum of three young children and I would not let them out alone be it England, Australia or any other part of the world.

We sadly live in a different society to that of 20-plus years ago and we must all take responsibility as parents and sometimes sacrifice our own time for the safety of our children.

Sue McDonald,

Cromwell Road,

Alexander Heights,

Western Australia.

...IT'S a sad sign of the times when a night out ends in violence and robbery, but I do wonder as to why two young girls (12 and 13 years old) were out at 11.45pm alone.

It's a common fact that our children have to be protected more so now than in previous times, so to allow children out late at night unsupervised beggars belief.

I consider Mrs Westerby lucky to only be worrying about the loss of £5 and a mobile phone.

Annette M'Anespie,

Crayke,

York.

...I AM in shock after reading the article headlined "Girls cinema trip ordeal".

That they were attacked does not surprise me, but the fact their mother let her 12 and 13-year-old daughters out at 11.45 at night does.

They watched a film and then walked to Tesco's, passing many dark and quiet places, to phone for a taxi!

This mother is lucky nothing worse happened to her daughters.

Maybe another story is needed here, the mother has a lot of questions to answer.

Wendy Walker,

Yearsley Grove,

Huntington, York.

Updated: 10:56 Thursday, March 13, 2003