I WAS very sorry to read about the death of film director and restaurant critic Michael Winner at the age of 77 (Echo, Jan 22).

I remember watching several of Mr Winner’s films at the cinema. Among my favourites were Death Wish, The Games and Lawman.

It was also a pleasure to read his columns in the dailies.

I wrote to him once at The News of the World in reference to a female singer he had mentioned.

I still have his very nice reply.

LD Wilson, Guisborough.

MICHAEL WINNER was something of an unsung hero of the British film industry.

He didn’t make art and his films didn’t win awards.

But they did put bums on seats.

He will be best remembered for the Death Wish series (my favourite being Death Wish 3) but he made many others, including The Big Sleep, The Stone Killer and The Nightcomers, with Marlon Brando.

He was also an accomplished author, a respected food critic and a crusader against film censorship.

We will not see his like again.

H Foster, Darlington.