Letters to the editor

Sir - As someone opposed to fox-hunting, I must say I was horrified by the TV footage of police over-reaction during the Countryside Alliance protest in Parliament Square on Wednesday.

Having observed the way the police handled the huge anti-war demos of 2003, I had hoped that they had learned something since the days when my nose was broken by a police truncheon during a Vietnam War demonstration in London's Grosvenor Square in 1968.

This softly-softly policy contrasted, to my mind, with the Israeli troops' use of rubber bullets, live ammo and stun grenades during peaceful demonstrations in Palestine while I was there recently.

Clearly, some countryside protesters stepped outside the bounds of peaceful protest, in the use of fireworks and smoke bombs, but that is no excuse for lashing out at those who were merely involved in the sort of good-natured pushing and shoving that often happens when protest meets with authority.

Those who invaded the House of Commons have been arrested and quite properly will be prosecuted, but the police authorities should note the easily identifiable officers who also misbehaved, and take appropriate action to discipline them.

Karl Dallas, Church Green, Bradford

A sick 'tradition'

SIR - Well done to the Labour Government for finally banning fox-hunting, though it should have been banned 200 years ago along with bearbaiting and dogfighting.

In the 21st century the cruelty of hunting has no place.

I hope the hunters, who constantly tell us how law-abiding they are, will obey the law when the ban comes in. If they don't then the police should treat them as they treated the miners in the 1950s.

The arguments the Countryside Alliance put forward are feeble. They say hunting is a tradition and a way of life.

Well slavery was a 'tradition' until it was banned, and if their 'way of life' includes chasing and tearing apart a terrified animal then it is a sick, sad, way of life and needs changing.

Scott Alden, Thornacre Crescent, Wrose.

On with the hunt!

Sir - One can understand the anger and frustration of the pro-hunting lobby but cannot condone the violation of Parliament in any shape or form. Also, the violence between the demonstrators (sparked by hunt saboteurs?) and police is unacceptable.

But and it is a big but, I have witnessed the damage that foxes can do and it is not very pleasant to say the least. If the fox hunted for food then that would not be so bad but it kills for the sake of it.

I think that the pro-hunting people are right - it may be violent and there are things that I do not approve of (blooding children, etc) but it does provide a lot of people in the rural areas with work and pleasure and saves farmers a lot of worry when a fox is killed on their land.

The alternative is bounty hunters with enthusiasm but not expertise trying to kill foxes and leaving them injured and even more dangerous.

Hands off the hunt, I say.

Phil Boase, Elizabeth Street, Wyke

Masks for cash

SIR - Spencer Dayman Meningitis UK is inviting pre-schools, nurseries, playgroups, infant and primary schools to become involved in our exciting fund-raising initiative Masks for Meningitis, to help support vital research into vaccine development.

Sadly meningitis and meningococcal septicaemia continue to kill more children under five than any other infectious disease.

Masks for Meningitis is a great opportunity for children to show off their creative talents by designing their own face masks. We will provide each child with a mask template which they can decorate themselves.

Each group or school will then be asked to choose a theme for their masks, such as animals, fairytales, or cartoon characters, and develop a fund-raising event around it.

Every participating group or school will be provided with a fund-raising pack, which includes a handy symptoms card for each child to take home, balloons, masks templates, posters and a meningitis awareness fridge magnet.

The event will be open until December 31, and as an added bonus, we will be offering some fabulous prizes for the top fund-raising groups.

If any of your readers would like to find out more about this fantastic event and how they can become involved in supporting Spencer Dayman Meningitis UK, I would be delighted to hear from them.

Sian Evans, Fund-raising Officer, Spencer Dayman Meningitis UK, 25 Cleeve Wood Road, Downend, Bristol, BS16 1SF.