WITH reference to the article "starring" my cousin Clare Rowntree and family, I have to agree that many of the children we know do not take much exercise.

My own children, however, do at least two and a half hours of ballet a week thanks to Rebecca Salenius; swim once a week with school and best of all, they think, they go to the Fitness First kids' club on a Saturday afternoon if I can book them in.

Unfortunately the club is often very busy and sometimes they don't get in. It would be great if there were more facilities like this for children. They come out of it hot and weary (well done the leaders!).

We are now trying to give our children a decent "road sense" by cycling as many places as possible. Is there anywhere in York that does routine cycling proficiency courses please? For some reason, children respond better often to another adult other than a parent teaching them.

Julie Dickens,

Huntington Road, York.

...WITH reference to your comments on GNER's The Arrival Of The Fittest booklet (June 3), I think it is an excellent idea to encourage passengers to performing simple exercises on their journeys.

I agree lone exercisers may look a little strange and draw attention to themselves. However, as an exercise instructor myself regularly taking chair exercise classes with the over 60s, I would heartily recommend some simple shoulder lifts, neck turns, ankle turns, heel raises, heel digs, toe points and some posture work to help circulation and keep joints mobile. These exercises could be done without drawing attention to oneself.

Angela Hampton,

Hawthorn Grove,

Heworth, York.