IT sounds like good news that the Government is to set up a national centre for best practice to develop alternatives to animal experiments.

However,the best approach would be to stop using animal experiments altogether, and to concentrate instead on the many methods that are directly relevant to people such as epidemiology, tissue cultures, computer simulation and clinical observation.

Animal experiments cannot be used reliably or safely to predict how useful a treatment will be for human patients.

Every medicine that causes death or serious health problems for people has been tested for safety on animals first, so clearly animal tests are failing to show whether something is safe for people.

If you would like to support Animal Aids campaign you can call 01732 364546 .

RICHARD MOUNTFORD,

Development Manager,

Animal Aid.