K WHITEHEAD (Letters, August 5) states that regarding asylum seekers "the Government won't admit they have lost control of the borders."

Well, our government must be in good company as virtually every 'rich' western nation has exactly the same circumstances.

As long as there is war, poverty, disease, famine, and human trafficking, combined with the ease of modern global travel, then poor or oppressed people will always try to flee to 'rich' or safe countries.

Britain is half-way down the European league table for numbers of asylum seekers per population. The situation isn't only confined to Europe, with countries such as the USA, Canada, Australia and Pakistan still receiving large numbers of 'illegal' immigrants.

Unless Mr Whitehead suddenly has a magic wand and can solve the situation that prevails worldwide, then he had better get used to the idea that people will travel from poor to rich countries often by any means possible.

L JACKSON (Mr), Cavendish Street, Darwen.