IN reply to the points raised by Ms A Knittel in her letter of Friday, August 4, I am most grateful of the opportunity to clear up any misunderstanding regarding artificial earth's.

Most artificial earths are very old, some date from the 1800s. They have in many cases have become part of the natural habitat so are not really artificial any more. In no way can the fox forced to breed in an earth, natural or not.

The artificial earth is used to draw foxes away from sensitive areas where they may do damage to livestock and wildlife, especially when they are feeding cubs. Man-made earth's are not too difficult to construct, in fact I believe a senior member the League Against Cruel Sports once issued plans on how to build them. If placed in the wrong area there is no doubt they would have caused many problems for neighbouring farmers.

Ms Knittel has completely got the wrong idea about the people who go hunting, the vast majority are working people. I know of postmen, milkmen, farm workers, nurses etc etc who hunt. If there are wealthy toffs involved then so be it, they are obviously quite happy to pay for a free pest control service and provide a fallen stock collection for local farmers.

As the social climber that Ms Knittel believe me to be I shall return to work tomorrow as a forklift truck operator and continue my climb up the social ladder.

J N BURGESS,

Worcester Road,

Malvern.