I WANT to say a very big thank you to the whole team involved in the Scotswoman of the Year event.

We were lucky enough to be in the finalists group and it added real excitement to our lives for a few months.

We now have friends that we could never have imagined having. We are in awe of our fellow finalists and delight in Adele Patrick's selection as SWOTY 2016. She demonstrated a life of dedication to women and women's achievements and development over the last 25 years. What an achievement!

As for our selves, we are off to Ethiopia once again and the work will go on.

We are really grateful to the Evening Times for giving us some acknowledgement. We loved our involvement with your staff, Ann, Lyndsay and her events team and for all your encouragement and warmth.

Jo Middlemiss

Personal Life Coach, via email

I NOTE new cameras being installed in Glasgow, especially in Govanhill. I pass them each day were seagulls and crows are using them as a toilet for their droppings. Can senior officials in the council not use their common sense and place a 'a jaggy bunnet' on top of these expensive cameras to deter these birds from causing long term damage and even more cost to replace or fix?

Mr Clean, via email

I AM delighted to see that the West Coast Mainline will reopen next week. I don't think we can stress enough its importance, not just for travellers but for the knock on business effect.

Rail links couldn't be more important. Anything that can be done to reduced journey times should also be encouraged.

When you think of the spin off benefits to towns and cities that are in a two mile train journey radius from London - they must have a real boost from that.

To do London in a day on the train has huge economic benefits. At times I think we are still disadvantaged that journey times aren't shorter.

Any attempt to bring more high speed rail to Scotland should be looked into. When you travel abroad the train services are second to none. They are in an enviable position and one to which we should aspire to.

S Saunders, Glasgow

I SEE the first of the charity runs have started already this year. And thank goodness for these brave souls who pound the parks and the streets to raise money for good causes. There are so many charity link ups and runners all around the country who are doing a great job to raise funds as well as keeping fit at the same time.

Where would we be without the charity runners - they may well be playing a bigger part in research and medical breakthroughs than they realise.

C Gentles, Govan