Should we cut web shopping down to size?

I AM normally a dress size 16-18 in clothes. over the past month, I’ve bought online or from catalogues.

Knowing how appallingly erratic their sizing can be, I sent off for several sizes in dresses.

The only one that fitted comfortably and was made of a good quality material was a size 24!

Rather than manufacturers complaining about the cost of returns, it would not be necessary if items were made to the correct sizes and used better quality materials.

So I welcome news that several major retailers have signed up to the Shape GB campaign (Mail), to standardise sizes. rosAliE DAUBnEy,

Evesham, worcs. TV PRESENTER Anne Diamond admits that her online shopping habits have contributed to High Street decline (Mail).

Internet shopping also clogs up the roads. A lot more vehicles are there because of internet orders; they are delivering and taking back unwanted goods.

I don’t understand why people buy shoes and clothes online. These are things you need to try on in a shop. All of these internet shoppers should get out more.

vinCE lEonArD, Bedford. THE reason High Street shops are declining is because women are buying clothes online, wearing them once to a wedding or party then sending them back, dishonestly claiming they don’t fit.

They are exploiting online shopping to get free clothes hire. When the clothing firms go bust, these same women will be weeping into their prosecco.

mUnro stArr, lough, leics. PUT an extra tax on online sales to help the High Street retailers who employ more staff and have a higher council tax bill. Town centres are becoming ghost areas.

John lowArCh, oswestry, shropshire.

Honouring a hero

THE story of RAFVR Warrant officer Alexander McGarvey GM, QPM, takes the theme of letters (Mail) describing honourable German servicemen a step farther.

A serving policeman, McGarvey was called up to the RAFVR [Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve] in July 1941. He trained as a pilot in Texas, in the US, and returned to the UK as a flight sergeant, piloting Stirling bombers in missions over Germany.

In August 1943, flying back from Hamburg, his plane was hit just off the German coast. He and his navigator parachuted out of the aircraft but the rest of the crew were lost. Towing his wounded and unconscious navigator, and suffering leg wounds himself, he swam for eight-and-a-half hours before being picked up by German sailors. The navigator survived thanks to Alex’s brave actions.

The German captain was so impressed with McGarvey’s feat of endurance, he sent a report to the Red Cross recommending a bravery medal.

Four weeks later, while a prisoner in Stalag Luft 3, he was told by a Red Cross representative that he was being recommended to the British for a bravery medal.

In 1945, on being repatriated from captivity, McGarvey was awarded the George Medal by King George VI at Buckingham Palace, on the recommendation of the German Navy.

After the war, he returned to policing and retired as a Chief Superintendent in the City of Glasgow Police in 1974, after being awarded the Queen’s Police Medal for Distinguished Service.

His story is told at the Glasgow Police Museum, where a display of artefacts is dedicated to him. AlAstAir Dinsmor mBE, curator

of the Glasgow Police museum.

Bravo, President Macron

I AM in total agreement with France’s President Macron introducing National Service for 16year-olds, albeit a watered-down version of what he suggested.

I am in favour of bringing back National Service to Britain.

It would give young people a sense of discipline, which is lacking in schools and families. They would learn skills that could hopefully gain them employment later, it would give make them grounded and teach them self-respect.

It would be particularly helpful for those in families where generations have lived off benefits and never contributed to society.

It might also eradicate the gang culture and knife crime that gets steadily worse, as it comes from a warped search for identity better instilled in the young by the sense of belonging and purpose National Service would provide.

GorDon KEnnEDy, Perth.

Nats low on talent

A NEW SNP minister has to go on her first day (Mail) because remarks that were offensive when originally written are still considered unacceptable today.

Some question the First Minister’s judgment over the appointment, given she was well aware of some of the comments.

What Nicola Sturgeon cannot admit, of course, is that she hoped the remarks would not be brought up again, because good candidates for these roles are getting pretty thin on the ground.

Perhaps if the SNP is running so low on talent it should let someone else have a go.

KEith howEll, west linton, Peeblesshire.

Absurd car crackdown

LoRD Deben, chairman of the Committee on Climate Change, said the target date to phase out petrol and diesel cars, scheduled for 2040, should be brought forward to 2030 because it ‘was not ambitious enough’ (Mail). He must reside in cloud cuckoo land where absurdity, fantasy and unrealistic pronouncements prevail.

There are 37.9million vehicles in the UK, 2.9million in Scotland and 1.28billion worldwide, so what does he intend to do about the rest of the world’s polluting vehicles – 97 per cent of the total?

And to think he is being handsomely paid by us to make such foolish utterances.

ClArK Cross, linlithgow, west lothian.

A green crisis?

IT is being reported that food and drinks are likely to be in imminent short supply due to the lack of carbon dioxide sources (Mail).

Politicians and their green advisers are littering our countryside with wind turbines, installing expensive smart meters and invoking policies to foist electric cars on us, all in an effort to reduce carbon dioxide emissions. Time for some joined up thinking?

Gm linDsAy, Kinross.