IT seems as though summer is here and that June will live up to its flaming tag. For those fortunate enough to have one, a garden provides place for relaxation to enjoy the sun and the quiet joy of the evening.

Because of the heat, people quite sensibly leave their windows open in order to get some relief and to sleep. For a small number of people, particularly in St John's, the summer weather brings a selfish summer madness.

Typically, this manifests itself in two stages: 1) nature in the garden is thrashed into submission by the use, judging by the noise, of heavy industrial machinery and 2) the burning of the resulting garden waste on a bonfire that creates billows of noxious smoke.

It might be understandable that people want tidy gardens with neat hedges and clipped lawns but the burning of waste on a bonfire is wrong. The smoke from bonfires not only pollutes the atmosphere but it also invades homes through open windows and doors. It causes suffering more so to asthmatics and it endows a lasting taint to furniture and clothes.

Bonfires lighted in summer, or when people are using their gardens, show a lack of consideration for others. There is no good reason to light bonfires during the summer - there is little reason at other times and people should stop it!

Most garden waste can be composted down and if not, it can be reduced to a dry state for later disposal. Garden waste can also be taken to a council tip or use made of the council shredder service. Mr Shredder man comes to your home shreds the garden waste, which then can be used as a mulch.

Unfortunately, we understand that there is a long waiting list for this service.

This means that not everyone is suffering from summer bonfire madness and that the county council should consider extending the shredder service to promote a smoke-free Worcestershire.

G HUDSON, K M HUDSON,

Worcester.