The letter writer Phi Beavan (Evening Advertiser, September 13) when referring to the popular forthcoming Countryside Alliance march says " a large majority of country folk enjoy animal abuse and cruelty."

Where is the actual evidence for such a stupid statement please?

Opponents of hunting with hounds could be taken more seriousy if they concentrated on studying the Burns Report and the real factual evidence currently being presented at the enquiry under Alun Owen.

Unfortunately urban folk like Phil Beavan will never ever understand the passion country folk have for maintaining the ecology of the countryside and all that it entails in doing so.

I spent many years hunting in the Wiltshire countryside and elsewhere in the UK and can truthfully say I never saw any cases of animal abuse or cruelty whatsoever.

N J D GALLIMORE

Santa Barbara

California

USA