MUCH concern is being shown over our heating and lighting costs, and rightly so.

Recent price increases have really hit both the poorer citizens and most of our wonderful pensioners.

Green campaigners and many polititions are against both nuclear and coal energy. But they need to show caution; North Sea gas is running out and we are too dependent on unreliable supplies from Russia and European countries that purchase cheap gas from us in the summer due to the fact we have no storage facilities such as they do.

They refuse to sell us sufficient quantities in the winter and what they sell us back is at a very much increased price.

So nuclear power has a major part to play and, remember, we are sitting on rich seams of quality coal which would burn cleanly. By using this supply of energy most of our known serious shortage could be overcome and at a lower price.

Any knee-jerk condemnation of all fossil fuels is a luxury this energy-starved nation cannot afford.

Further considerable increases in gas and electricity prices are due in the autumn. So let's be prepared to use other fuels.

Ron Thrower