I MISSED seeing Mr Obourne's letter concerning his frustration at people who leave their engines running during cold spells but I would like to answer Stephen Pill's long letter in the Evening Advertiser.

Some years ago my national company instructed all users of their cars not to leave them running on cold days, for the simple reason that the practice did the engines no good at all,.

It was impressed upon us that the best way to warm up an engine was to get in, start up and immediately drive off. In a few minutes the inside of the car would be as warm as toast.

This was excellent advice and I commend it to all people who mistakenly think that cars need long periods of idling, prior to being driven.

To finish on a practical note, I read of one village recently where several cars were stolen from driveways. The thieves simply got into the cars which were warming up and drove off.

GORDON CRABBE

Whittington Road

Westlea

Swindon