I TAKE exception to the call by the Bishop of Blackburn, the Rt Rev Alan Chesters, for an end to the arms industry in Britain (LET, April 13).

I recall the last world war was caused not by the arms industry but by appeasement - people wanting peace at all costs. It was the RAF, flying British-built planes, who saved the country from evil.

I am sure Bishop Chesters says the Lord's Prayer quite often - which includes the line 'Deliver us from evil.' Without the industry arming this country, who will deliver us from evil?

As for employment and making new products for peace, the church's own record is appalling, despite the Church of England being the wealthiest landowners in the country.

The Cathedral closed its own bookshop which is now run by volunteers at another church. The volunteers live on social security paid for by the taxes of people working at places like British Aerospace.

BARRY WALSH, Calgary Avenue, Lammack, Blackburn.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.