Watch out there, it's jungle warfare in your garden!

pounds 100Gardening is supposed to be a relaxing hobby. Yet most of the gardeners I know are always on about killing slugs, snails, ants and green fly.

And I am sure that if they could get away with it, they would shoot any bird or cat that invaded their precious garden!

Relaxing? It's more like jungle warfare to me. - Fred Spence, Birmingham.

I can understand how keen gardeners feel, Fred. The sight of a slug on my lettuces is enough to make ME reach for a flame-thrower!

pounds 5I admire the Americans for sending the Pathfinder probe to Mars. They have sent it at the wrong time of the year to find any life there...they're all down here in Wiltshire making corn circles! - Mr D. Goddard, Salisbury, Wilts.

pounds 5I was appalled when I saw your article telling what happens to a fox when it has been eventually caught by the killer hounds. Anyone who indulges in this barbaric cruelty in the name of sport is inhuman.

We must put an end to this mindless cruelty on these beautiful defenceless creatures. - Mrs H. Jacklin, Long Eaton, Notts.

pounds 5The dictionary defines "vermin" as "vile, odious, despicable people" - a rather apt description of fox hunters!

Last week's harrowing article by your Editor Bridget Rowe (Why This Barbarism Must Be Banned) brought to mind a quote from Robert Louis Stevenson: "Mankind is indeed king of the beasts, for his brutality surpasses all of them." - Mrs Maggie Hopkins, Sanderstead, Surrey.

Oscar Wilde had a telling phrase for fox hunters too...he called them "the unspeakable in full pursuit of the uneatable". Enough said.

pounds 5Congratulations must go to schoolboy Bernard Hibbs for his wonderful new invention, which you reported last week. His badge which changes colour to warn its wearer of over-exposure to the sun could well play a major role in the fight against skin cancer. A simple but brilliant idea, but one needing backing if it is to become a reality.

Let's just hope that Bernard gets the support and recognition that his hard work deserves...for all our sakes. - Mr T. Wells, Great Yarmouth, Norfolk.

When you've got as much skin as me, anything that keeps it in good shape is a great idea...

pounds 5Having been a cricket fan for many years I can understand the modern- day precautions of painting one's face to guard against the sun's rays. But to see some of our own players all painted up on the first couple of days of the Old Trafford Test when the skies were covered over with thick cloud made me think of them as bigger clowns than they often are. - Mr T. Hatzar, Darwen, Lancs.

Personally, I don't care if they dress up in warpaint as long as they give the Aussies a good thrashing.

pounds 5Junk mail doesn't bother me, so here's my tip to people who ARE annoyed by it.

Open the envelope, find the pre-printed return envelope enclosed, fill it with all the material sent, and post it back to the sender. Remove all evidence of name and address, of course!

I am sure you'd get a special delight from knowing that the company has paid double postage with no financial return.

An added bonus is that someone has got a paid job opening the envelope and searching for the hoped-for order. - Mr A. Williams, Newport, Gwent.

I know how you feel - I get my revenge by always sending back junk mail carefully folded, about six times, when they beg you NOT to fold it.

pounds 5I was so sorry to read of the demise of the NHS Lottery which I have supported for some time. Surely this is a heaven-sent opportunity for Richard Branson to take it over and wipe out the Camelot "fat cats".

Everyone I have spoken to about it says they would immediately leave Camelot and change to a new lottery if they had a chance. So why not give it to us? - J. King, Rye, East Sussex.

I couldn't agree more - let's give Mr Virgin his opportunity to show what a lotto he can do.

pounds 5We had to smile at the notice we saw in a hotel while on holiday in Spain. It read: "All water used in this establishment has been passed by the management"! - Harold Leach, Cheltenham, Glos.

I hope you didn't drink their beer either - the mind boggles!

Jack's big gamble

I'mdelighted to read that the cast of Coronation Street are off to Las Vegas to make a video for fans. But does Las Vegas know what's coming? You can just imagine Jack Duckworth playing the slot machines in the casino 24 hours a day, seven days a week. And if Tom Jones is doing cabaret there, he'd better watch out if Vera gets her ever- loving hands on him! - Mrs E. Jackson, Slough, Berks.

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