THE nostalgic pictures shown in The Press (Market Forces, September 18) take one back to the 1950s and 1960s when most major cities were engulfed in yellow smog, brought on by mainly industrial and home coal fires emissions.

Taking into account the pictures showing Parliament Street in 1872 and the basket market in 1907, there would appear to be a distinct cover of haze or fog even in York, in those days.

Observations also reveal a giant halibut, which is a rare sight on our fish markets of today, with the demise of our fish stocks and fishing rights.

The absence of motor vehicles is another feature, transport mainly pedestrian, horse or hand-driven carts. It makes one wonder that we may have to revert back, when oil fields dry up - or am I being too pessimistic?

A roof over your head, rented or otherwise, food cooked over an open range, Lancashire hot pot and whatever was available, clothes worn to the last thread, hiding behind the sofa from the rent man, scrumping apples from farmers' or neighbours' trees, homemade sweets because of rationing, Christmas presents and cards designed and homemade.

"Make do" was the motto.

Nature will dictate the future, not politicians or governments, in the order of things.

Our priorities over the last few years seem to rely on market forces with only a minority in a position to benefit from wealth, ie sporting personalities, TV celebrities and pop stars, while half the world is starving due to climate change and greed of others.

Turn a blind eye if you wish, but the past may arrive on your own doorstep for future generations to come.

Kenneth Bowker, Vesper Walk, Huntington, York.