CLARE Rowson, Countryside Alliance regional director, (Letters, Wednesday, March 21) refers to "Home Office firearms review hints at restrictions on the age young people can use weapons."

Does she mean that as yet there is no minimum age for this activity? Surely there should be. This correspondent seems to suggest that such a measure would be a preliminary to a total ban on shooting as a sport. What absolute nonsense.

We have a minimum age at which people can drive vehicles, buy fireworks and consume alcohol in a licensed bar.

This does not mean that all vehicles are to be banned, all organised firework displays banned, or all pubs are to be closed. The same would apply to shooting as to these other facets of life.

However, for the Countryside Alliance, anything constitutes a legitimate stick with which to beat the Government. I remember that in the late 1940s and early 50s there existed The British Housewives League.

This organisation was a front for a Conservative Party as is the Countryside Alliance today. The Tories are brilliant at the art of propaganda whereas the Labour Party is clumsy and amateurish.

D E MARGRETT,

Worcester