I believe any reasonable person from either side of the hunting debate will be concerned at the content of the anti-hunting letter from Mrs Turner (Your Letters, June 7). Claiming the Malvern Gazette was "coerced" into publishing the article about huntsman John Holliday was an extraordinary attack on the principle of free speech and a free press.

I agree with Mrs Turner that "we are living in an ever changing world" but sadly this has not led to

freedom from prejudice that should be the foundation of a tolerant society. Nowhere in Mrs Turner's tirade against hunting was there a glimmer of a serious argument against the activity. We were merely treated to an onslaught against country sports that relied more on a dislike of people and the perpetuation of 'class war' than a love of animals.

While Mrs Turner calls for a ban she fails to look at methods of controlling foxes other than by hunting with hounds. Though centuries old, hunting is still an effective way of managing the fox population and it does so without leaving one wounded fox in the process. Thankfully the alternatives of gassing, poisoning and gin traps have been consigned to the dustbin of history, it is a great shame that bigotry, prejudice and unreasoned argument have not followed suit.

Jon Burgess, Worcester Road Malvern.