IN reply to Herr Dieter Schroeder's letters (You Say, September 28 and October 8) concerning the inefficiency of our city clocks and the untidiness of our city roundabouts, I find it hard to believe that Herr Schroeder cannot find more important topics to gripe about.

He hails from Germany which, I am led to believe, is a spotless country where it is verboten to eat and drink in the street.

Why then doesn't he complain about the utter filth which lies on every street and path in this, our "wonderful" city - dog mess, vomit, spit and broken glass to mention a few of the more unpleasant deposits.

Then there are discarded bottles, sweet and chocolate bar wrappers and the half-eaten food and its containers. Disgusting. Why Herr Schroeder wishes to be here completely escapes me.

Isn't it about time that we, as responsible parents, begin by teaching the younger people the decent moral standards that we used to have in this country and that other countries still have?

We once had a country of which we could be proud.

MRS SUE TAYLOR,

St John's, Worcester.