MAY I thank your staff for the kindly, sympathetic help they gave me regarding my harassment by the TV Licensing Authority (December 18). Hopefully they will leave me alone now.

With regard to the comment "Life without TV" how would we fill the hours? Well, for me, there aren't enough hours in the day. Try knitting, crocheting, reading (we have superb libraries and bookshops in York). Morning and evening papers have super crosswords and puzzles.

We have St Sampson's Centre, where you are guaranteed a hot cuppa, a friendly face and always someone to talk to.

Then, in summer, a lovely big garden to plant out, weed etc. Back to nature - you can forget all your worries.

If any of these don't appeal, there are colleges. I joined "computing for the terrified". I had a smashing time and now I'm the boss of my computer.

Miss Dorothy Wootton,

Northfields,

Strensall,

York.

...THE letter from Mrs Wood (December 21) shows another bad side to the TV licensing system. In the York area there may be hundreds of people, and thousands nationally, being subjected to similar treatment to Mrs Wood: "harassment, insensitivity and a strong implication of guilt".

We see weekly ads on TV about possible £1,000 fines for students if they fail to get a licence. In York we have seen street names advertised on the rear of buses referring to licence fees not being paid, insulting to every person in that street and to York itself.

It is time the Government acted to change the way the BBC is funded. The BBC provides a range of services - radio, support for overseas forces, education for all ages, TV entertainment, language courses - and benefits society in general.

The BBC could be funded similar to the library system. A number of alternatives to the licence fee could be examined, for example all government or charity-type advertisements could use the BBC.

This would allow limited advertising to bring in some revenue, but not to undermine the commercial channels.

In addition, households could pay partly via the community charge.

The country would benefit because savings would be made in not having detector vans, legal aid and court costs. Savings of more than £100 million would be likely.

The Government should do a cost and social analysis, together with inviting submissions from the public.

Colin Clarke,

The Crescent,

Stamford Bridge,

York.

Updated: 09:32 Saturday, December 28, 2002