I WAS sorry to read Tony Woodwards' letter last week. Whilst I can understand his dislike of fox hunting, I cannot agree with his reasoning, which seems to centre on "questionably attired pest controllers", "over-weight" hunters, and "blood lusting followers".

Typically of many anti-hunt supporters, Tony falls into the trap of prejudice and intolerance, and he fails to see the lack of reason within his comments.

I can assure Tony that the attire worn by those who hunt is as practical for them as the Lycra that he wears to run in is for him. To condemn a pursuit because of the clothing worn, or indeed of the weight of those that he perceives to hunt is quite immature. On those ground he must really hate sumo-wrestling!

I can assure Tony that hunt followers do not hold an "inherent desire to slaughter" but strive to maintain a balance of nature within the countryside. The fox is officially classified by DEFRA as vermin, and as such needs to be controlled; not eradicated, but controlled in areas where a growing fox population is not sustainable.

I can assure Tony that hunting with hounds is a far more selective and humane form of control that the alternatives (poisoning or shooting).

Those who follow the hunt on horse-back, regardless of their weight, take no part in the killing of the fox, and indeed are rarely in a position to be able to see the final act as the hounds work so far in advance of them.

Those who ride do so largely for the thrill of riding through beautiful

countryside, not knowing what challenges they will meet, over an unknown course for an unknown duration. I am sorry that Tony had to witness a kill. In his situation I would have averted my eyes, as I would if watching a rat writhing in pain after taking poison.

However, I do accept that the hounds do an efficient job of pest control. By all means stand by your principals Tony, but do not criticise a minority of our society because their views on clothing or their weight or their perceived social standing do not please you - that is called

discrimination.

Mr B Lammas

Bromsgrove