WE are all rightly appalled when we read about children being groomed by paedophiles, but how much damage is being done by parents dressing up their little girls like Barbie dolls?

I recently watched in horror as I saw a group of primary school pupils setting off for their end of term prom. While the wee boys looked lovely in their kilts, the wee girls were dressed up and made up to look about 20.

It is peer group pressure gone mad.

I blame the parents.

Should they not be teaching and bringing up their children to believe that looks and appearances are unimportant?

Should they not be doing everything they can to protect their children's innocent years rather than catapulting them into the grown up adult world of superficial looks and values?

I know some people will say I'm being old fashioned and a kill-joy, but last week, sitting in the park, there were girls of 10 or 11, who in previous years would have been running about or playing rounders, staggering about in high heels and make up.

Childhood is a precious time, let's try to keep it that way. The kids will grown up before you know it. MRS R BRADY, Via e-mail Time to tackle roads

THE letter on road repairs on Monday struck a chord with me.

There are a number of councils areas adjoining Glasgow that need to repair their roads.

Now that East Renfrewshire has at last attended to its street lighting, perhaps the savings they will have made will result in more money being spent to repair the poor state of the roads throughout the area. ARRWEE, Glasgow Proud of young folk

IN the last few weeks I have attended two school shows and four dancing displays, and all the bad publicity regarding the youth of today was blown away with the talent I enjoyed.

So instead of damning all youngsters, give them praise for all the effort that has been put into shows like these.

They make Glasgow proud. MARGARET McMAHON, Via e-mail Fat can be fatal

I WELCOME the news that Scotland is on course to cut the number of deaths from heart disease and strokes by half (June 29).

It shows that we're doing something right, but I do agree that obesity is still a terrible problem and will for future generations be the main contributary factor in many chronic conditions. JEANNIE960, Glasgow Get her sailing again

WITH regard to Monday's story on the Paddle Steamer Waverley hitting the landing pier at Dunoon, I hope that they get the old lady back service again soon.

I've never been aboard the ship, but my wife and I took a sail on the Balmoral in 2005 and we really enjoyed it.

They should keep both the Waverley and the Balmoral in commission. RMACKAY2, Vancouver Who pinched plants?

AS a gardener, I take great pleasure in making my garden look nice, watching the plants and flowers grow, and basking in the compliments I receive from neighbours and passers-by.

Clearly though there's someone else out there who likes my garden almost as much as I do. Thanks to whoever it was who stole the pot of irises out of my garden on Monday night. I hope they give you as much pleasure as they were giving me!

Oh, and when they die, maybe you would be good enough to return the pot?

Thanks again. GARDEN LOVER, Glasgow WRITE: Evening Times, 200 Renfield Street, Glasgow G2 3QB. Please include your name and address. E-MAIL: letters@eveningtimes.co.uk Please include postal address. TEXT: key in the word 'etletters', leave a space then send your comments to 88010. Max 160 characters. Please include your name or initials and where you're from. Texts cost 25p at all times. HOT TOPIC: Re-regulate buses to help cut city jams

THE root of the problem stems from a variety of sources.

The city centre is clogged with buses driving nose to tail, many of them from different operators on the same routes - some carrying nothing but fresh air.

Bringing some sanity back to how routes are regulated and licences granted is long overdue. OPENMIND, Glasgow Subway is the solution

LONGER opening hours and cheaper fares for the Subway would go along way to reducing city centre traffic. JUDGMENT JOE, Glasgow Listen to car drivers

IT'S time that the poor motorist had a say rather than all the other parties who all have an anti-car viewpoint, as it serves their interests to so do. HARRY, Glasgow Car parks fuel the jams

MAJOR car parks in the middle of the city centre cause much of the unnecessary extra traffic (eg those at St Enoch, Glassford Street, Buchanan Galleries etc) - all with limited entry and exit points from city centre streets that are vital/major bus corridors. ANDREW STEPHEN, Posted online Shops draw in traffic

THERE are a wide range of areas which Glasgow must improve on.

But, as long as we continue to expand on our provision of large city centre retail developments, i.e. the expansion of the St Enoch Centre, and Buchanan Galleries, what else can we expect? PEOPLE POWER, Glasgow Bus stops block traffic

IT'S hardly surprising that there is congestion when the council builds bus stops that stick out into the inside lanes to reduce four-laned roads to two lanes. It also seems to be obsessed with creating road humps everywhere. I PREDICT A RIOT, Glasgow The traffic isn't so bad

AM I alone in thinking that Glasgow city centre isn't all that bad for congestion.

It has a very modern layout (wide streets set out in a grid pattern). Due to my job I regularly drive through the city and never have a major problem.

I'm also a keen cyclist and think that a modern city should have a better cycle network than the set up we have to navigate in Glasgow. JAMESY1980, Glasgow