IAN Hutcheson (Letters, August 15) comments negatively about an apparent increase in the pronunciation of the letter “u” as “oo”. Strange that he does not identify that is an accepted and legitimate pronunciation form used across the whole of the north of England and also in southern Ireland? Would not a useful starting point have been to note that this pronunciation might indeed be becoming more commonplace in Scotland (and elsewhere within the UK?) and to seek reasons which might explain its spread?

One possibility might be the influence of TV soaps set in the north of England such as Coronation Street and Emmerdale. Perhaps the weather forecasters mentioned might simply be from that part of the country or, indeed, have lived there for a period.

Stephen Downs,

28 Griffiths Street, Falkirk