PROUD TO BE ENGLISH: Lisa Allen and C. Cotten must be living in the past. While I appreciate their views, our British identity was taken from us a long time ago when the word Briton was consigned to the English dictionary. However, we have the consolation of being English, although for how long only time will tell. The people living on our western borders are known as the Welsh and those on our northern borders are Scottish, so those who were born within those borders must be English. So why isn't English shown on official forms? Could it be someone is ashamed to be known as English? For the record I'm proud to be English, born of a First World War soldier who served in the British Army for 21 years.

Alf quinlivan-barnes Pinnacle Hill Bexleyheath

NASTY OR NICE: Why did you refer to thieving scumbags who broke into a family home and stole their possessions (News Shopper, December 14) as cheeky? This description diminishes the crime by implying they are Del Boy characters. I'm sure the family concerned who were robbed could describe these low lifes as something more than cheeky. To be robbed is to be violated and it can cause misery and anguish for years after, so please do not use nice words to describe nasty crimes such as this.

Mr R Hart Medhurst Hill Bexleyheath

THANK YOU: I would like to thank the woman who helped my daughter when she fell ill on the sidcup train from Charing Cross on Friday, December 16. It arrived at New Eltham at about 8.30pm. Unfortunately my daughter did not get her name but is extremely grateful as are we all. She is still recovering but is well on the mend.

Mrs M Smith Halfway Street Sidcup

CONCERT FUNDS: Many thanks for promoting the Belvedere Concert Band's Christmas concert at St Michael's Church, East Wickham on 17 December. You will be please to know £1,213 was raised for the Greenwich and Bexley Hospice.

ROGER CALVER Teignmouth Road Welling

GRATEFUL WINNER: Would you please put a note in the paper thanking all concerned for the goodies received from the Erith Riverside Shopping Centre Competition which I won.

G Southcott Slade Gardens Slade Green