HOW reassuring to note the condemnation of racist attitudes and comments in your Thought for the Week column by the Rev Richard Armitage, Vicar of Evesham.

Because the number of people from ethnic minority groups living in this area is small, our community may be considered to be racially naive - even to the extent that some people are unaware that to address a person from such a group as "coloured" can be offensive.

However, the issue of race is not simply a question of black and white - minority ethnic groups consist of people from backgrounds as diverse as Chinese to gypsy origin

It would be interesting to learn of the experiences regarding racism (or not) of people from minority ethnic groups in our area.

In an equal society, we should support Rev Armitage's view and challenge racism and bigotry - not allow our naivete to be used as a reason to condone those attitudes.

NAME AND ADDRESS SUPPLIED.