IALWAYS thought that age was supposed to bring wisdom, but in the case of Leslie Jones it simply appears to allow a barrage of illogical rantings to actually make it to paper.

The way men and women dress today is their own affair. Dress and attitudes towards it have changed throughout the centuries. What was considered smart once may now be just plain old-fashioned.

Women have worn trousers of some for a long time, including those who made such important contributions to the war effort both in the First and Second World Wars. It is not the end of the world, nor is it the reason for any perceived moral decline.

Turning to what was no doubt meant to be the most controversial comment. A woman's place is wherever she wishes to be. Any person has the right to pursue any type of career open to them (within the limits of the law, of course).

If a woman's place is indeed in the kitchen, how do we explain the number of male chefs? Equally, is the correspondent willing to tell us how the economy will survive losing all females from paid employment? Or how the public services will cope with only male nurses and teachers etc?

Women have rarely been confined to the kitchen, but have rather combined families and economic roles for a very long time indeed.

In the 21st century, people should be judged not by their appearance, race or sex, but rather by the substance of their characters and personalities.

KATIE DONNELLAN, Leyburn Road, Livesey, Blackburn.