THERE is much in modern life worth getting angry about. Injustice and intolerance abound. It must take a special kind of simpleton, therefore, to send hate mail over a television talent show.

Almost unbelievably, that is what songwriter Cedric Whitehouse has had to endure since Wednesday night's edition of Britain's Got Talent. Droitwich schoolboy Charlie Green, one of the favourites to win the contest, was voted off the show by judges Piers Morgan and Amanda Holden and his choice of song - an original written by Mr Whitehouse - was criticised heavily.

Since then Mr Whitehouse's website has been inundated with abusive e-mails, some claiming that he has ruined Charlie's career.

How sad an individual do you have to be to send such comments over what is, ultimately, a bit of fun?

We are sure young Charlie is disappointed not to have made the final. But we are equally sure that he had the time of his life appearing on a show watched by millions of people. To do so at the age of 11 is a remarkable achievement.

Whether choosing to sing Mr Whitehouse's song was a mistake is neither here nor there. The TV show, and the national coverage Charlie is receiving as a result, is a springboard to his future career.

We hope those who have penned the hate mail to Mr Whitehouse think long and hard about what they have done.

We suspect their actions have done more to upset Charlie than anything else that has happened to him this week.