JOHN Beyer of Mediawatch (Letters, December 6) says how many friends and supporters Mary Whitehouse had across the world and that "some people think that a free for all to offend is a right".

He misses the point some what. We are supposed to be living in a democracy. As such, freedom of expression is a basic human right.

What we watch on our own televisions and videos should be a matter of individual choice, if one is offended by any certain film or programme surely it is easy enough to reach for the off button or another channel?

Of course, people like Mr Beyer and the late Mrs Whitehouse are entitled to their opinions like anyone else, but not to tell the rest of us what we can and cannot watch.

At 37 years of age, I don't need do-gooders telling me what I can see on my own television set, I'm sure most Advertiser readers will agree with me.

The organisation founded by Mrs Whitehouse has criticised many things, even programmes like Tom and Jerry and Doctor Who have been criticised for being too violent.

My tastes in television programmes are varied from The Bill to Keeping Up Appearances, and I shall continue to watch them with or without the approval of Mediawatch. I never watch EastEnders, I found it boring, but I don't tell others they can't.

Rather than try to dictate people's entertainment, surely Mr Beyer and others could concentrate their energy on homelessness, child abuse, cruelty to animals, EU interference in Britain's affairs, pollution to the environment, helping victims of crime, or Third World debt, etc? There are many real problems which need sorting out.

PETER BATES

Belsay

Toothill