Sir, - In recent months, we have been led to believe that the Town Crier, produced by Darlington's Labour Council, is entirely self-funded from advertising receipts; however, the small number of adverts which appear each month in the publication seemed not to justify their self-funding claim.

Following an enquiry under the Freedom of Information Act, I was advised the income for 2007 from private company/ commercial advertising in the Town Crier amounted to £60,346, falling well short of the £155,593 annual production costs.

These production costs include printing, design fees, distribution by Royal Mail amounting to £34,720 and £18,082 to the company which obtained the advertising.

The Freedom of Information officer advised that an amount of £125,542 was generated by recharging advertising from council departments or public sector organisations. This can only mean that funds from the council tax/income tax are being used to subsidise the production of Labour's propaganda rag.

Our councillors are elected to take care of schools, highways, refuse etc and I see no mention in the council tax leaflets that we are now electing part-time newspaper editors.

In Darlington, we have the Darlington & Stockton Times, The Northern Echo and two free weekly papers, which are distributed to every household.

Faced with cuts in the budget, how can the Labour cabinet justify the continued production of the Town Crier?

Mrs JEAN JONES Chairman, ladies' section, South Durham Conservatives Tower Road, Darlington.