Sir, - I refer to Mr M Lawn's letter (What Pleasure, D&S Nov 17) concerning the pheasant shoot at Mount Grace priory.

It amazes me that his complaint was that his four-year-old son witnessed the shoot. Was Mr Lawn and his family forced against their will to witness the shoot? Was there anything that prevented him from returning to his vehicle and leaving for more suitable surroundings?

Instead he chose to confront the shooting party who were going about their law-abiding activity and was met with, as he says, derisive laughter. What did he expect?

It seems a majority of people who leave their suburban homes with their green wellies and come into the country to enjoy the scenery etc do not stop and think that it is only because of country sports that our managed woodlands exist today.

If country sports were banned, our countryside would take on a very different appearance. First to go would be our woodlands and hedgerows, turning the landscape into food producing prairies. We would see a dramatic increase in vermin and our song and game birds through time would become extinct. Do we want this to happen?

I think the answer to Mr Lawn's question, as a teacher of young children, would be for him to come up with some ideas to include countryside traditions and country sports in the school curriculum.

This would lead to a better understanding of the running of the countryside.

GORDON FRENCH

Secretary, Muzzle Loaders' Association, Durham branch,

Addison Road,

Toronto,

Bishop Auckland.

There is hope

Sir, - I refer to Mr M Lawn's request for readers' help to explain to his four-year old son the gratification obtained in killing pheasants and other wildlife (D&S letters, Nov 17).

I share Mr Lawn's perplexity and hope that shooting devotees will be writing in to assist our understanding. In the meantime, I suggest he tells his son there may at least be hope.

We have come some way since the mass torture and slaughter of large mammals at the Roman games. We have stopped electrocuting elephants to see what happens and have banned cock and dog fighting.

The competitive sport for country gentleman of shooting the maximum amount of wildlife of as many possible species in a season (as evidenced by framed tallies on the walls of visitable country houses) must have diminished.

Victorian notions that animals are unfeeling automatons are well on the way out.

Fox hunting is on the rack. The pressure is on and Mr Lawn could tell his son and his infant pupils that, as further time passes, those who still make a pastime of harming unnecessarily our fellow creatures are likely to feel increasingly encouraged to change to one or more of the many other possibilities available for leisure and recreation.

PETER HALE

Raby Lane,

East Cowton.

Forgotten village

Sir, - Every week we read in the D&S Times of villages in the surrounding areas having speeding restrictions and traffic calming measures introduced. Last week's edition stated that Hurworth is now to get help.

Neasham has been calling for help for a very long time, the locals want to see it. The police want it. The children definitely need it, even if some are too young to understand why.

We have a blind corner in the centre of the village which is crying out for a serious accident. Heaven knows what and when that will happen. But as yet all our pleas fall on deaf ears.

Why will nobody listen to us. We have spoken with the police, our borough councillors and the district council. We have even written to our local MP, the Rt Hon Tony Blair, but as expected nobody listens to the people of Neasham.

RICHARD HODGSON

Neasham Parish Council,

Reading Rooms,

Neasham.

Great work

Sir, - A heartfelt thank you to the local police of Thirsk. Last Sunday we had an incident in the post office and yet again the police came up trumps. Their rapid response (under five minutes) meant a suspect was arrested within minutes.

This is the second time I have had need to call on the police for their assistance and both times they have excelled themselves both in speed and service.

It is necessary in today's world to bring this to the notice of the general public as all too often we hear criticism of the police, mostly caused by their over-stretched budget.

Well today they came top of the shop for me. Yet again.

RUTH YOUNG

Sowerby post office,

Front Street,

Sowerby.