G R Jones took a real savaging in You Say on August 25 from A Knittel, C R Elliott and Pauline Burgess. He had obviously touched a nerve with his letter of August 17, which did a brilliant job of exposing how these people are affected by double standards and half-truths.

Live exports of sheep cannot be stopped because of EU law. You can be sure Tony Blair is not going to take us out of Europe to help a few sheep.

It would do more good if Knittel, Burgess and Elliott stopped criticising our farmers and tried to help them improve the already high standards of production and transport which they have done their best to maintain during some very difficult times.

Another way to help would be to start talking to the local Muslim community about why they feel it necessary to practise halal slaughter.

I think most Muslims must feel offended and threatened by what has been said in this paper by some correspondents, about what is an important part of their life and religion.

Knittel, Elliott and Burgess have got to face up to the simple fact that the world will continue to eat meat, wear leather shoes and one of the biggest religions will still practice halal slaughter, however much noise they make in Worcester.

ALAN COOK,

Bishops Frome

Near Worcester.