SIR – Helen Mead may have inadvertently come up with a solution to put Britain’s disastrous economic deficit back on track. I refer to the report on cage fighting (T&A, February 1).

A couple of thousand years ago, the greatest empire the world has ever known held on to that power by giving the people what they wanted – gladiators hacking each other to bits, and wild animals scoffing slaves.

Thankfully we’re a bit more civilised now – or are we? Who has brought about the country’s economic downfall (don’t all shout at once)?

We ‘great unwashed’ are tightening our belts to such a degree that very shortly we will cut ourselves in half. What are the bankers and politicians up to during this economic crisis?

Let’s get this nation back on its feet by arranging cage fights between the politicians and the bankers. Money is tight, but people would turn out in droves and pay good brass to watch these specimens knocking seven shades out of each other.

In the immortal words of Del Boy: “you know it makes sense”.

T Tordoff, Calderstone Avenue, Buttershaw