YOUR reporting of the private lives of us and our families was completely unnecessary, callous and insensitive and indeed many of the so-called "facts" were not true at all (page 1, Wiltshire Times, March 15).

The way you have singled Anne out to be the sole cause of the situation we are now in is completely unfair. She has suffered as much as anyone else and did not need any more punishment after falling out with the family she loves.

She is far from the manipulative person you have described and I find it totally appalling you can print an article about people you have never met in such a cruel and one-sided way. The constant mentioning of her place of work was a disgrace as it has nothing to do with our home life, which is nobody else's business.

You also stated we had been "in hiding" but that was not true. It is very sad you could not find some real news to put on your front page and had to resort to gossip. Remember there are two sides to every story and we choose not to tell ours. We have more sense as we know you would only misreport it to suit yourselves. I don't know what you expected to achieve by this, except more misery for all concerned, if so what kind of sick people are you?

I don't expect you to, but I would like you to print this letter in full so that I can thank all the friends who have given Anne and myself love, support and understanding over the very hard decisions we have both had to make.

P STANFORD,

Address supplied.