I REFER to John Hinton's letter (Monday, September 5). On the afternoon of Sunday, June 30, 1940, I was cycling home to Bewdley (at that time awaiting my call-up papers) when I was stopped by a member of the Home Guard who thought I might be a parachutist.

This left me somewhat confused, as he and I sang in the same church choir. I persuaded him that I was friend not foe. Apparently, someone had reported a landing of parachutists near Ribbesford. This later proved to be haycocks blown into the air by a mini whirlwind.

The whole story is recounted in The Battle of Bewdley, a book by a local historian, which is sadly now out of print. St Anne's church bells had been rung for the first and only time in the country, I believe. The bellringers were the regular ringers - but they only entered the church after my father who, as a churchwarden held the keys to the Bell Tower, had been contacted and entrance obtained.

The whole incident was taken very seriously. The Home Guard was mobilised and troops were sent from Worcester with bren gun carriers. However, I agree with John that bellringing was a matter for the trained ringer.

JOHN H P COLDRICK,

Worcester.