I WAS reading with interest Peter Swindon’s article about Glasgow City Council leader Frank McAveety (Evening Times, Monday).

He is approaching 100 days in office.

I am an elderly citizen and would like to say he will have to spread himself around a bit more and do more in the community.

I buy the Evening Times six days a week and, without hesitation, I can say that his predecessor Gordon Matheson is a hard act to follow for Mr McAveety.

It was a joy to read to read my Evening Times and see pictures of Gordon almost every day, with his lovely smile, out in the community.

I am sure he is missed by many.

Christina Daly, Broomhill Lane

I WOULD like to wish your readers a very merry Christmas and a happy New Year.

For many this is always an exciting time, but in the last few shopping days it can be frantic trying to get everything ready for the big day.

I want to gently remind your readers to remember that shopworkers are people as well.

They will be working really hard to make your shopping experience as stress-free and enjoyable as possible.

A recent survey showed that every minute of the working day a shopworker is verbally abused, threatened with violence or physically attacked. Shopworkers report that incidents are more frequent throughout the Christmas and New Year period.

That is why Usdaw, the shopworkers’ union, is running a Respect for Shopworkers campaign, asking customers to ‘Keep your Cool at Christmas’. It’s a simple message, but remembering that shopworkers are working extra hard at this time and treating them with respect will mean that everyone can have a happier Christmas.

John Hannett, General Secretary, Usdaw

I WAS interested to read the piece on the tunnel boring machine that will soon be rumbling under Crossmyloof (Evening Times, Wednesday.)

Pity Scottish Water had to go to Germany to get it.

Some years ago they would only have needed to pop down to Scotland Street and ask Howden’s for one. After all, theirs were good enough for the Channel Tunnel.

James Sandeman, Scone Place, Newton Mearns

Rather than trying weeks after the event to identify ajax fans (Evening Times, Wednesday) who caused mayhem and violence in the Gallowgate prior to the Europa league match against Celtic, surely police Scotland should be asking themselves how were these thugs allowed to run wild in our city streets.

If the police have CCTV footage to study why was no action taken on the night by the camera operators watching the violence or by the police?

Pub staff were being seriously assaulted and pubs were being smashed up but the police did nothing.

The citizens of Glasgow deserve better than this.

Billy Gold, Forge Street