They came into cities when we humans polluted the coastal environment and started leaving food waste lying in the streets.

The river is much cleaner now, but the city is still awash with litter and irresponsibly managed commercial waste. It doesn’t matter how many eggs and nests are removed, gulls will still keep coming in from the coast as long as we are laying on a feast for them.

The real problem is people — firstly, those who dispose of their rubbish irresponsibly; and secondly, the local authority which doesn’t seem to recognise this. If it does, it has apparently failed for years to take any serious action against the offenders. The real villains of this piece do not have beaks. — A Little Bird.

When I tried to advise them against this practice, they stopped for at least two to three minutes then started it again to the annoyance of everybody.

I wish people could just apply a little common sense and consider others. — Jimmy Borland.

To my dismay the programme was aired for four consecutive nights at 10.35pm. Why on earth was this brilliant programme on so late?

It showed the outstanding Mark Beaumont who pushed himself beyond physical and mental endurance to smash the world record.

I can recall when Ellen MacArthur smashed the sailing record round-the-world, her screening of her success was on prime-time TV and there was a great deal of coverage.

Put Mark’s adventures on at a time when more people can watch and appreciate his amazing story. — Cynical Sooz.

Jacques Regge of the IOC has made it clear he expects London to meet the standards of Beijing.

Does he take into account the fact the UK economy is growing by 0% at present and is heading for recession? Since the Barcelona Games in 1992 the cost of staging seems to have risen steadily, leaving the cities involved with huge debts.

I watched the opening ceremony in Beijing with wonder. Our athletes have done a great job in winning medals for the UK, but let’s be real. This was a sporting event above all else, but it has distracted public attention away from the economic woes of the government. The smile of relief on Gordon Brown’s face when he was interviewed in Beijing said it all.

Why spoil it all by using the honours list as a political tool? — R. F., Broughty Ferry.

The Lottery money seems to be for the likes of ballet, theatres and of course the opera, now the Olympics.

Lottery money should be going to the ones who really need help.

The Lottery money should be spent on opening up community centres for our young ones.

These places are struggling to stay open.

As for the London Olympics, remember we are the ones who will be paying for them and London will be the only city that will benefit from them. — Disgusted Reader.

I am searching for Tom and Jack’s early material etc., posters, flyers, cuttings from the old Palace Theatre, Theatre Royal, Whitehall Theatre, Caird Hall, etc. and from the Arbroath Entertainers of 1958 at the Webster Memorial Hall, where they started their professional career. Any item would be greatly appreciated and all costs would be met. E-mail colin.calder@btopenworld. com — Colin Calder, 13 Westfield, Kincardine on Forth, Alloa, FK10 4PN.

Years go past with yet more calls for young tradesmen, and yet there is still little for our young people.

It seems that everyone can come to Britain and exploit our education provision, but try to get our own children a decent trade and it’s just one knock back after another.

We realise the building trade has taken a knock recently, but the Government should really be dealing with these pressing problems now, rather than later.

I hope something can be done soon, before it’s too late for the percentage of our youth today who are willing to work. — Young Un.

Mr Salmond has spent the best part of his political career portraying Mrs Thatcher as cold, ruthless and anti-Scottish.

Many Scots found her policies offensive. The First Minister himself encouraged many Scots to break the law by not paying the poll tax.

With these comments Alex Salmond has made a grave error in judgment. — Gobsmacked, Dundee.

So why is the SNP government failing to recruit the numbers of police officers it promised?

In April Alex Salmond stated he had delivered “150 additional officers”. The body which runs Scotland’s prisons reports his target is a third short, or 53 officers to be exact. — Politico.

May 18, 1985, July 29, 1998, August 11 and 16, 2004 and August 18, 2006 were occasions where torrential, thundery downpours caused flooding in Dundee.

The most horrendous downpour in a very short period of time was 51mm in 12 minutes at Wisbech, Cambridgeshire, on June 27, 1970. — Weather Watcher, Dundee.