THE latest letter from Anita Knittel (You Say, June 12) on the subject of hunting and artificial earths makes some rather bizarre references to forelock-tugging and punishment in the stocks.

What this has to do with fox earths must be a complete mystery to any sensible person. In future, I trust Ms Knittel will treat this issue with the seriousness it deserves.

Again, I must point out to Ms Knittel that artificial earths are no big secret. Describing them as ''a nationwide network'' would make anyone think a few holes in the ground are more complex than the London Underground.

With reference to the Channel 4 News item where some dead sheep were found on a farm in Cumbria, this particular county is a big sheep farming area and there are bound to be casualties.

Regrettably these are not always cleared away promptly and efficiently as we would hope. The League Against Cruel Sports has reported this incident to Trading Standards, who are rightly investigating.

They have very publicly pointed out that the League's evidence is ''incomplete'' and has been edited to support their case. References to Cumbria Trading Standards and the League Against Cruel Sports were printed in the Cumberland News and Star on May 15.

It now seems that if any farmer has an animal die, and he fails to remove it in moments, he is guilty of conducting a fox-feeding and breeding programme.

I notice there were no complaints made when the Government left thousands of animal carcases unburied for weeks during the foot-and-mouth epidemic.

JON BURGESS,

Malvern.