BLAMING our traffic problems on immigrants is a bizarre idea, which demonstrates a lack of regard for wider social issues.

Road congestion is largely due to society's over-reliance on cars. In Worcester, this problem is made worse by old narrow streets and bottleneck river crossings. Worcester is increasingly a commuter city, but this cannot be blamed on immigrants.

We would have fewer traffic problems if the region had reliable, affordable and frequent public transport.

Suggesting that the Government should ban immigration is a blinkered, ignorant "solution".

With an ageing population and a declining birth rate, the country actually needs immigrants to keep the economy going.

After the recent minibus crash, farmers from the Vale of Evesham publicly stated that their farms relied on labour provided by immigrant workers.

Aside from the economic aspects, I believe that living in a multicultural society should be embraced rather than feared.

ELIZABETH TRINGHAM,

Hallow, Worcester.

I RECENTLY read that a new ruling by the EU Employment Regulators have passed a law to make it illegal for offering to shake hands with a prospective employee as this is considered offensive to Muslims and Jews.

Surely it would be better to outlaw such religions as those mentioned, as these are the two religions that are the cause of all the troubles in the world today.

P J MAYNE, Hanley Castle.