I think most people were shocked recently to learn that our national debt now exceeds £1trillion but what is also alarming is that as a nation we are continuing to borrow money.

So what do we do in such a pickle?

Well the government says we must all tighten our belts and all suffer some pain.

But what do we see our leaders doing with money they do not have?

Well, they spend hundred of thousands of pounds on the installation of stainless steel poles with rocks on.

This seems to me to epitomise what is wrong with our economy.

Our leaders are just ploughing on with their head in the sand spending as if nothing has changed.

I know there will be those who will point out that these funds had already been allocated but we have been in a mess for well over two years, plenty of time to cancel such wasteful projects.

Peter Tarrant Upwey