Sir, Having used Heathrow’s Terminal 5 for the first time yesterday, I feel moved to offer a counter-view to the one given by Stephen Pollard (Thunderer, April 7).

The Heathrow Express from Paddington was clean, quick and efficient as ever. The terminal building itself was majestic. The signposting was good and for those who needed a little personal touch, the place was swarming with polite airline and airport staff offering assistance. The toilets, contrary to Mr Pollard’s experience, were clean and well designed. The choice of shops and food outlets was better than in most other airports. The longest I had to queue was five or so minutes to get through the security search. But it was as painless and stressless a flying experience as I have had for some time. And the bags went too, and arrived, as intended, in Rome.

Doubtless this is of little comfort to those who lost bags in the opening days of Terminal 5, or those whose flights were cancelled recently because of snow. But if my experience of yesterday becomes the norm, perhaps Heathrow-bashing will start to recede as a national pastime.

Alastair Campbell
London NW3

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