I enjoyed Bill Hearld's "People watching people" column (September 7). It was interesting and amusing, and amazing.

What goes on in the mind of someone to persuade him (or her?) to send a message full of obscenities from the other side of the world? I can only congratulate Bill for taking it with such phlegm (and I bet he felt like spitting too).

The only thing Bill didn't comment on, so I'll do it for him, was the horrible sight of the latest "fashion" for girls - jeans hanging down far enough to expose the cleft of the buttocks, and above, a great thick circular pad of flesh sticking out all round like a deformed Saturnine ring. Yuck. Pass the sick bag.

I don't like tattoos either, but I certainly like the great new tabloid paper.

I was delighted to see the new format for community news items. Great! A big thank you to the decision-maker.

Joan E Paley,

Alwyne Drive, York.

Updated: 10:51 Saturday, September 11, 2004