I READ with much interest the article regarding the town bus service in Malton and Norton, which has been extended for a further six months by the North Yorkshire County Council, which also includes Pickering.

This is good news for the local residents who rely on the service, especially the elderly and disabled, as the buses have a disabled wheelchair access.

While the buses are smaller than those provided by Hayesway, they do appear to be used by the residents of Pickering, where I live, and hopefully will continue to do so.

Ann Searle, Pickering

Help is at hand

AS the new year gets under way, ex-forces men and women who are out of work in Yorkshire will be looking ahead to what 2019 might have in store for them.

This can be a challenging time of year for veterans. Those with mental or physical health conditions who do not have a job or a close support network can feel particularly isolated.

At The Poppy Factory, we know that ex-service men and women who are wounded, injured or sick will still flourish in the right working environment.

In return, the skills they have honed in the military bring enormous benefits to their employers. The contribution made by meaningful work to positive mental health cannot be overstated.

The Poppy Factory’s employability team works closely with individuals in their communities, helping to boost their confidence and skills and look for the right job opportunities.

We help with everything from CV writing and interview preparation to training and in-work support, making sure our veterans feel comfortable in whatever new roles they take up.

This year I hope many more businesses and organisations across Yorkshire will consider the value that veterans can add to their workforce.

Our team stands ready to help more wounded, injured and sick veterans find a way to fulfil their potential in the civilian world.

Deirdre Mills, chief executive, The Poppy Factory

Truly missed

IT was with great sadness that I learnt of the passing of one of our Lib Dem Peers. Paddy Ashdown was a great influence in the development of our party, both when MP for Yeovil, as our leader in the Commons, and then a member of the Lords.

I first met him when, following the by-election, I went to Westminster as Ryedale’s MP in May 1986.

He was always full of energy, had loads of ideas and used to share these with us with enthusiasm.

On one occasion, during the passage of the sex discrimination through Parliament, he invited me and five or six of the younger members to breakfast with him, to discuss the various clauses of the Bill. I was the appointed member on the committee for this Bill, chiefly I because, I suspect, at the time I was the only one of my gender in our party, and also, only the 26th lady member of the whole House.

Paddy provided an excellent breakfast and there was plenty of useful discussion, which helped me, to go with it.

He will truly be greatly missed and deepest sympathy goes from our local party to his wife and family.

Elizabeth Shields, president of Ryedale Liberal Democrats

No surprise

I REFER to Dr Williams’ comments in letters and opinions in the Gazette & Herald on December 19.

Dr Williams by now you must surely have realised that Mr Hollinrake our local MP is a “yes man” who adheres to party policy, irrespective of the views of his constituents.

His support of fracking in Ryedale is yet another example.

Following his fracking survey trip to America, I find it difficult to believe that Mr Hollinrake could support fracking, knowing the many problems it causes which he must surely have become aware of.

So his support of lethal weapons comes as no surprise.

Christopher Baxter, Kirkbymoorside

It’s plain wrong

MARTIN Crutwell is plain wrong about the European arrest warrant.

This only applies to serious criminal law calling for a minimum prison sentence of one year. These laws are set by national governments. It has nothing at all to do with “red tape” regulations made by EU or UK bureaucrats.

This warrant was not forced upon us but required an opt-in by the UK government. As a consequence, more than 6,000 criminals have been deported from the UK, and around 700 criminals deported from EU countries to the UK. People believing in the rule of law should celebrate this.

His comments about Magna Carta are also misleading. The Vikings had trial by a jury of 12 people before we did. In other words, this concept was exported to England from Europe, not the other way round.

Peter Winter, Kirby Misperton