These youngsters only formed earlier this year, but their standard of performance is excellent.

The audience was captivated from their first few notes. Applause rang out before the last notes had been sung.

They and their teacher are a credit to their school. I left the hall feeling I had been given an early Christmas present. — Magic Madrigal.

ALTHOUGH I am no Episcopalian, I worked for two years on the staff of an English cathedral school in the 60s.

So I listened to the Christmas song contest for primary schools in Dundee with interest.

Although cathedral choirs were strictly for boys in my time, the choirs I liked best (Ardler, Dens Road and Longhaugh) had girls in the majority. So I am not surprised most cathedrals have had to abandon the boys-only rule.

Being able to listen to each choir by phone, and so to make a fair comparison, is helpful.

I hope the Tele and Wave 102 will continue to hold these contests. — Robin Ball, Morgan Street, Dundee.

I too hunted round the shops for cards with a picture relating to the Nativity and find them sadly lacking.

Are the manufacturers trying to stifle the promotion of our Christian heritage?

As a Christian country we should endeavour to keep the real meaning of Christmas alive.

The powers-that-be in the Scottish Parliament and others in authority seem intent on banishing the promotion of Christianity in our country. It is time to wake up to the danger. — A. B., Dundee.

Smart (St Mary’s Association of Residents and Tenants) highlighted areas of concern and these were submitted as reports to the relevant council departments. They then reacted by setting up a task group for the area.

The outcome is that the council has committed £350,000 over the next three years to improve of security. Areas to benefit will be discussed with Smart and the police.

In addition the Scottish Executive has allocated a £400,000 grant for Dundee to tackle anti-social behaviour over and above the money earmarked for wardens.

From that £60,000 has been targeted for St Mary’s to work with younger tenants to help them settle into their tenancy and to sustain the spirit of the community. In St Mary’s we have 60% of tenancies under the age of 25.

Smart has also been working to involve young people by setting up a youth group and this has been well attended. This has been supported by police and community workers and is held in St Columba’s sheltered lounge.

I encourage everyone in St Mary’s to come along to our meetings on the last Tuesday of every month in the same lounge, starting at 7pm. — Alice Bovill, Chairperson, Smart.

General Pinochet, the ex-Chilean leader who committed similar atrocities against his people with not a whimper from the US, was never sent for trial despite overthrowing a democratically-elected government.

Could it be that the reason for this is that Pinochet had the full support of America and came from the ruling classes?

Saddam was a former peasant who, in America’s opinion, rose above his station. — George Aimer, Kinghorne Road, Dundee.

I hope they go on to achieve a 100% clear-up rate.

However, unless the judiciary hands down sentences which punish offenders and acts as a deterrent to others then I am afraid all he and his colleagues will achieve is to spend more time hanging about the sheriff court in frustration. — Inverg.

How heavy are these coins? I took the time to weigh a £1 coin and it did not even register on the scales.

If Mr Liddell is blessed financially I suggest he transfer his coin collection into notes such as £5 and £10.

Times change. The mint no longer makes these notes and the majority of people do not want to carry around scabby 10-year-old notes.

Also buses do not accept notes so you may have to walk home in the rain because you do not have the golden nugget that is a £1 coin. — Duncan Mcann, Monifieth.

We moved to Lochee in 1976 and I remember a tree being erected that year where the health centre is now located.

The tree was then moved to where the former police station was to its present position at the by-pass circle. — Tele Reader, Dundee.