I?REFER to Mr Reeve's letter 'Backing the Hunt'.

He states there was no cruelty to the fox.

This man is living in cloud cuckoo land and is out of touch, talking nonsense. He goes on to mention politics.

Forget politics, let's get to the issue on hunting.

Hunting foxes with hounds is cruel and barbaric. I have reports of foxes being trapped, dug out and then killed, held up for people to view and then have the blood smeared on to the face or faces of the people who carried out this. Is this not cruelty, Mr Reeve?

I have a photograph of a deer trapped in a stream on Exmoor. The fear on this animal's face says it all – with tha hounds baying for blood and with children present, some as young as five years of age.

There are also junior hunts. Here again, children from the age of five upwards are being groomed. It reminds me of Hitler's Youth. Strong words yes, but that is how I feel about hunting. Keep it banned.

– C H Cowmeadow, Smallbrook Gardens, Ross-on-Wye.