Sir, – I have noticed that both The Northern Echo and the Darlington & Stockton Times have chosen to publish ads for sex chat lines. This week there were three such ads.

I am surprised and disappointed in these days of equal rights that you support these derogatory adverts.

Your publications often celebrate the achievements of local women which is a positive attitude and promotes equality but having these ads goes against this.

Is this the image of women that you want to promote? I thought your papers had more respect – not to mention standards of decency. I am sure there is demand for these type of services but this is not the correct place for them to be published.

There are many such “top shelf” magazines to promote these personal services and these magazines are displayed out of reach of children and subject to age restrictions.

Please could we have these offensive ads stopped and return to proper standards of decency – in the interests of the women out there who care about how we are portrayed and still retain respectable family values.

JUDITH TEMPLE Ingleby Cross, Northallerton.

Editor’s note: Newsquest publications, including the D&S and The Northern Echo, introduced some restrictions on this type of advertising last year. The issue remains under review.