SURELY a 'sport' is a pastime from which one can derive pleasure.

Therefore, regarding Mr R Holden's remarks (Letters, July 28), I must say I find it extremely sad that supposedly civilised, highly advanced creatures such as humans can still gain enjoyment from chasing frightened animals over large distances, in pursuit of the anachronism that is hunting.

If the fox is hunted because it is vermin, then can he explain why another defence of hunting is that it 'conserves foxes'? Why also were many foxes imported from Europe in the past by the hunting set.

Mr Holden also claims that, should hunting be banned, 'foxes would move more into urban areas', where they could, he states, substitute their usual diet of 'lambs and chickens' (sic) with cats!

Could I point out that many foxes do currently live in our towns and cities and certainly do not eat domestic cats.

Indeed, a cat would stand more chance of fighting off a fox than a pack of rampant foxhounds. This argument is very obtuse, ill-considered and smacking of desperation.

Mr Holden paints anti-bloodsports people as cat-owning 'ignorant townies.' I don't believe that 78 per cent of the population, including 68 per cent of 'country folk,' own cats!

G ASPIN (Mr), Victoria Avenue, Cherry Tree, Blackburn.

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