RIBBLE Valley MP Nigel Evans states he will not support the Bill to ban hunting (LET, June 4). What is the justification of hunting with hounds when public opinion is very strongly in favour of change?

Write asking your MP to be in the House of Commons on November 28 to vote for the Bill against stag and fox-hunting.

Anyone interested in preserving the rural community must support a ban on hunting wild animals with dogs.

The hunting lobby are trying to persuade politicians that a ban on hunting will split town and country and will destroy rural jobs and necessitate the destruction of many horses and hounds.

This tactic will fail simply because the claims are false; the facts are indisputable.

On the question of hounds and horses, it is not widely known that the hunts shoot up to 10,000 hounds annually, at around six years of age, half their lifespan, after losing pace and stamina.

Drag hunting is less rigorous for the hounds, avoids roads, railway lines and other dangers and never involved trespass or attacks on non-target pets and livestock,

Hounds used in drag hunts can hunt three years longer than those used to kill wild animals.

It is the shame of Britain that we have allowed a century to pass without providing basic protection for wild animals.

SHEILA BRENNAN (Mrs), Bombay Street, Blackburn.

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