IN the May 10 issue of the Kidderminster Times, John Thompson describes an area of Shatterford as "a blight on the countryside".

I presume he is referring to my family's land.

A working family farm, which is now on its third generation, is a rare breed.

We produce quality British beef for local markets.

The "massive amount of horrific ... rubbish" which Mr Thompson describes, is fodder, bedding and wrapped silage for our animals, and far from being a danger to health, it is all biodegradable and environmentally friendly.

My husband stacks his wood and metal outside his workshop and we park tractors and agricultural machinery outside our home, which I would think is within our right.

Do I dictate to Mr Thompson how he keeps his house or garden? And if it offends him so much, there are plenty of bridlepaths to ride past. In fact some, to my knowledge, through farmyards like our own.

The family working farm is a dying breed, and we feel lucky to live on a farm and bring up our son in such surroundings, not this so-called "absolutely abominable", rat-infested, "horrific stinking rubbish" which is where we live (or so Mr Thompson thinks we live).

It is narrow-minded people like this who are spoiling our great country.

Life sometimes is hard, dirty and not all roses round the door, but people are too removed from the blood and guts of the countryside and the real hard life it is, and have a chocolate box image like Mr Thompson.

ELLEN DALE

Underhill Farm

Shatterford