Petrol panic, affording old age and the Olympics kit Dinah S. Parry, Ottery St Mary, Devon SIR - Surely I am not alone in thinking that the so-called "petrol panic" was a media artefact? The Government merely issued non-binding advice which the media then inflated -irresponsibly in my opinion - in order to make a story that would help fill the 24/7 "news" schedule. Had the government said nothing, it would have been accused, by the same media, of being either indifferent to public concern or complacent about the situation. Once again, it looks as if the media has exercised power without accepting responsibility for the consequences. A typical case of the government being damned if it issues advice, and damned if it doesn't? J. A. Bosworth, Cugy, Switzerland SIR - The Government should take great satisfaction that so many people act on the recommendations of its ministers. Ian Henderson, Lingfield, Surrey Civil surveillants SIR - Labour failed to introduce state snooping. Despite vigorous encouragement by senior civil servants, they met fierce Tory opposition. But now the same civil servants have persuaded David Cameron to change his mind (report, this issue). Perhaps they all need to be reminded that we, the people, are sovereign in Britain. The state answers to us - not the other way round. Ashley Mote, Binsted, Hampshire Toll road warning SIR - In considering more toll roads (report, Issue 1,079), David Cameron should heed what happened in Brisbane. In March 2010 a three-mile road tunnel opened in Brisbane with predicted use of 60,000 vehicles a day. This was reached during a five-week free introductory period, but when the toll was imposed the numbers dropped to 20,000 and have never recovered. The owners went bust a year later. Roseanne Schneider, Yeronga, Australia Consider a computer SIR - Mr Crossfield (Letters, Issue 1,079) might want to reconsider getting a computer. He would find that shopping online saves lots of money, time and energy. Keeping in contact with friends and relations, sharing news and photos is easy and lots of fun. He would have instant access to local and world news and any other information he might need, including help with the crossword clues. My father, who is 97 this year, has just signed up to Skype and Facebook and is really enjoying the contact with his far-flung and numerous family. Computer access is free at Canadian libraries. Carol Collins, Branson, Switzerland So much for 'smart SIR - I've just been looking at the new regulations for getting "smart" passports on renewal. We now have to courier passports to a Düsseldorf centre and then wait four weeks for them to be sent back via courier. But here in the Czech Republic (and in neighbouring Austria and Slovakia) you are required to carry Passport ID 24/7, particularly when driving. A photocopy might, just might, suffice but out here in the boonies the local police are not foreigner-trained or friendly. We were even fined for being "late" in presenting our new passports to the Foreign Police to have our residency permits updated. When we asked how we were supposed to know that there was a time limit, we were told that it was on the internet somewhere (in Czech, not English). So spot fines or vehicle confiscation loom if one is brave enough to venture out for the four-week purdah period. I am stopped for a document check in my Czech-registered car on average twice a month Then comes the final twist. If the renewed passport comes back via the Post Office or courier service you cannot get it. You need formal ID to collect any parcels or registered documents. I wonder if anyone at UK Passports etc actually thought this through? Gordon W. Neale, Mikulov, Czech Republic Living in jeopardy SIR - Reading of the plans for a "new city" in the Midlands (report, Issue 1,079), might I suggest the place be named "Jeopardy," as that is where unfortunately many of today's jobs are. Derek Wingham, Victoria Point, Australia Warner insults us SIR - Jeremy Warner's article "We simply cannot afford old age" (Comment, Issue 1,079) is insulting and unfair to many older people who worked longer hours and often in tougher conditions than most folk do today. They are not the feckless scroungers this article makes them out to be. The real culprits are those who spent the sums deducted from their earnings on other things and not on what those contributions were supposedly for. Ruth Bartrop, Tassara, Qatar A kit fit for clowns SIR - Stella McCartney, the fashion designer, has created a number of colourful designs for the British athletes to wear at the London 2012 Olympic Games (report, Issue 1,079). I wonder whether this will cause jealousy among circus clowns and those who perform in pantomimes, whose outfits will now be less effective in delighting their audiences. Robert Vincent, Wildhern, Hampshire SIR - The British team's ghastly kit has stayed true to the insipid theme set by the London 2012 Olympic logo, and those ugly mascots, Wenlock and Mandeville, who appear to have been inspired by Japanese children's cartoons. Stella McCartney's designs have almost completely done away with the red of the St George's Cross in our national flag - and accentuated the blue of the St Andrew's Cross. In fact, her outfits would be far more appropriate for the Scottish team at the Commonwealth Games. Lord Coe and the London 2012 organisers have sacrificed what we do best - pomp, pageantry and tradition - for trendiness, and it just doesn't work. We can only hope that the opening and closing ceremonies do not take their inspiration from the embarrassing display we put on at the closing ceremony of the last Games. Robert Readman, Bournemouth, Dorset Distracted by pasties SIR - What a great political week. The highlight for me was the thought of the Labour strategists getting together and deciding to plonk Messrs Miliband and Balls in a queue for pasties, to show that they were men of the people, while George Galloway was campaigning to win the Bradford West by-election by 10,000 votes. Stephen Hitch, Ermington, Devon Degrading price tags SIR - Bryony Gordon's article in Issue 1,077 can best be described as tacky, as she priced each article of clothing worn by the Duchess of Cambridge, even to the extent of the discount that was being offered. Fortunately she did not degrade the Queen by doing the same. As Oscar Wilde said, "they know the cost of everything and the value of nothing." Mark Stevens. Jakarta, Indonesia