I agree with Jeannie Chatfield (Letters, January 17) - the passport office should re-word its application form in respect of who it considers to be qualified enough to countersign children's passports.

It is hard enough to think of anyone other than family members who have known both the child and oneself for a number of years without them having to be working as policemen, politicians, judges or such like as well.

I had the same dilemma in November with my then 15-year-old son's passport form.

His teachers had not known me for two years and nor are we known to the police (thankfully). Our GP might have done it for a charge.

We decided to go with a qualified, professional carpenter and received a reply to say he did not fulfil the criteria.

The passport office must not be allowed to discriminate against manual workers who have done their apprenticeship and learned their trade on a college course lasting several years (and can put letters in front of their names if they want to).

I was furious for the inconvenience - and on principle - and called the office to complain about its snobbish, old-fashioned criteria. After all, Jesus was a carpenter. My son received his passport.

Three cheers for all the professionals who fit our kitchens, wire our houses, clear our drains and so on.

-T Inkinen, Gordon Road, Shoreham