Sir, – I refer to the Newburn block of flats on Tyneside which has been undermined on one corner next to the river after recent floods.

Why should it be demolished? If our Georgian and Victorian ancestors could build lighthouses out in the ocean, harbours where the walls go well under the water level, bridges where the bases are also deep down under water level, why is demolition even considered?

Isambard Kingdon Brunel or George Stephenson would have had this underpinned in no time and the problem solved. But no - let's demolish it is the "experts’" way.

If only we had the likes of the two aforementioned engineers around now – they might even consider shuttering and ready made concrete. To men like that it would be a piece of cake and not a yellow hard hat in sight.

WILLIAM BARKER

Thornton le Street, Thirsk.