C. STEPHENS, I have read many of your letters, with great interest and respect, and have agreed with most of them, but I cannot see where you are coming from in regard to hunting.

I agree that hunters are harangued, but that is because we have a chance to stop hunting. I have no idea how to stop Borneo farmers cutting down rain forests or how we can stop pollution, but that does not mean I do not care.

I also agree with your point that many people and especially children are disconnected with the countryside and that is a terrible thing, but there is nothing to gain by repealing the hunting ban at all.

Re-introducing legal hunting would make no difference at all to our environment or any business connected with hunting as long as drag hunting goes on.

As for a toff's "sport", it is not a sport at all, and I can assure you that many of these toffs you refer have no idea of civility or good manners.

As I have said to many before you condemn the hunting ban, I suggest that you witness a hunt.

In response to the points mentioned by Bob Feltham in his letter, what nonsense. I am aware of what damage foxes can do, and I have no problem with them being culled in a humane way, but if they are that much of a problem, why are farmers breeding foxes to be hunted?

But I respect your comments regarding stag hunting.

I say again that hunting is mindless and is not necessary to control foxes or stags, there are other humane ways of doing this. Stags, including pregnant does, are torn apart, as are foxes, if that is not mindless then what is? How can this be seen as a sport or how can it be enjoyable, except to those that are mindless and cruel?

Clive Heath.