I REFER to the letter from A L Eastwood (You Say, June 22).

The euro has almost achieved equity with the collapsing US dollar. The pound sterling can only live in the shadow of the dollar.

Therefore, it would seem that before all that much longer, the euro will, as Mr Eastwood suggests, achieve equality with the pound.

Then will be the time for UK to join the single currency and that will be excellent.

High inflation in Greece has nothing to do with the single currency. It is probably due to an on-going brittle relationship with the Turkish neighbour, which has its origins in the days of the Ottoman Empire.

There may have been something of a blip in regard to inflation in Germany. The old mark was a resilient currency that went through many vicissitudes.

However, petrol is cheaper in most of Europe than it is in the UK. Of course, the price of this commodity is basic to many other goods and services.

The fact that in Greece petrol is priced at the equivalent of less than 60p per litre shows what can be achieved with the euro.

D E MARGRETT,

Worcester