WHAT a pleasure to read Ms. Bath's letter (July 6th) concerning "supernatural events" at Littledean Hall, debunking the "ancient land" nonsense. Her argument is unanswerable.

These claims for extraordinary and supernatural properties of place rank alongside claims such as personal superiority based on descent from an "ancient family". We all come from ancient families.

Even if you don't understand genetics you only need watch an episode of "Who do you think you are?" In fact, based on mitochondrial DNA evidence, we all go back to about eight primordial females.

You can apply these same arguments of extremes to the ridiculous claims made for homeopathic medicines, where the greater the dilution the more powerful the effect. There can be no greater dilution than when water returns to the oceans, so by that logic a glass of seawater should cure all ills. If only!

– Rod King, Cross Farm, Morse road, Drybrook.