LIKE most Brits, I cheered myself hoarse willing Steve Redgrave and his crew on to Olympic Gold. But I cheered for a different reason.

There is no doubt that Steve is a wonderfully talented and dedicated sportsman, but for me, his biggest triumph was the one over his diabetes.

Steve has to inject himself with insulin six times a day to be able to compete at Olympic standards, but he never faltered.

As the mother of an insulin-dependent daughter I know just how thoroughly fed up he must have been having to battle this debilitating condition along with all the stringent training. But he just went in there and got on with the job. As far as I'm concerned he should have won two gold medals.

What an inspiration he is to the millions of people around the world who find themselves "in the same boat".

Congratulations Steve, and good luck in all you do in the future.

Ella Hirst,

Coggan Close,

South Bank, York.

...CONGRATULATIONS to our Olympic competitors, they have all 'done us proud'.

We must support them and their sports once they return from Sydney.

It is little wonder the Australian swimmers won most of the gold medals. Their training methods and facilities are far superior to ours.

It was obvious from the swim across Sydney Harbour in the Triathlon that the 'Roos' train in shark-infested waters! Can't we invest a few quid in some 'Training Toothless Whites' sharks (ones with a nasty suck) for our British training pools?

Dale Minks,

Sucress Walk, York.

Why more lights?

CAN anyone from the council explain why we have had to endure yet more temporary traffic lights on Leeman Road for the past few weeks?

It appears the only reason for their presence is to guard a path of cones for pedestrian use.

Any spasmodic work in connection with the house-building site is not affecting the actual road. Since most pedestrians use the riverside path to the city centre, and the few remaining can easily use the footpath on the other side of the road, there is really no need for this abomination.

Is there any possibility in this Millennium year of advanced technology that the powers-that-be can programme a 'tidal' timing of the sequences to cater for the high volume of inbound traffic in the morning and the corresponding outflow in the evening?

J P Wheatley,

Jubilee Terrace, Leeman Road, York.

...City of York Council has now closed Lendal Bridge to all except 'buses, taxis and cyclists' and one of the principal diversionary routes to other road users is via Leeman Road.

Yet in a stroke of sheer genius this same council has permitted the erection of temporary traffic lights, with single-line traffic operation, on Leeman Road, presumably associated with the St Peter's Quarter development.

With a planning department like this, we don't need lorry drivers and farmers to blockade York; the council will do it for them.

Incidentally, if Lendal Bridge can be closed to private motorists for six weeks why not make it permanent and improve the quality of life in York's city centre overnight?

Neil Raw,

Oriel Grove,

Clifton, York.

Labour on the slide

THE recent fuel crisis has shown that the Government is arrogant, and out of touch with the British people.

Peter Mandelson himself said the Government's handling of the crisis appeared high-handed and unsympathetic. He is right. As the public begin to see through the spin surrounding Mr Blair and his cronies, Labour are sinking in the opinion polls.

Even Government figures show that since they came to power, the number of children living in poverty has risen by 100,000. Over the same three years, the number of pensioners living in poverty has also risen by 100,000.

Is it any wonder only one in five people think things have got better under Labour?

David Ashton,

Leader of the North Yorkshire County Council Conservative Group,

County Hall,

Northallerton.

...WITH apologies to William Shakespeare - Tony Blair's speech at Brighton was "Much ado about nothing."

Barbara Wright,

Manor Road,

Easingwold, York.

School's flying pigs

ON a recent visit to our daughter in London, she brought home the following which had been pinned on the staff notice board by the head teacher.

Another day done.

All targets met,

All systems fully operational.

All pupils satisfied.

All staff motivated and keen.

All pigs fed and ready to fly.

I wonder how many of our local teachers have the same thoughts?

Mrs C N Battams,

Cedar Grove,

Stockton Lane,

York.

A woman with bite

IT'S not surprising to us that, give or take the occasional frozen pig's ear, Julian Cole ('On the box', September 23) has a 'soft spot' for Nigella Bites.

We like everything about this new Channel 4 series and think Nigella Lawson is a welcome breath of energising fresh air.

John and Margaret Lawson,

Aldborough House,

The Groves,

York.