Sir, – I was shocked and dismayed to see your generous coverage of hunting (D&S, Nov 6), with not one word of reference to the fact that the practice, as commonly understood, is illegal.

Is it customary for respected newspapers to appear to be virtually encouraging lawbreaking?

Or was the D&S’s intention the altogether more laudable one of making sure the hunt monitors know exactly where and when to carry out their dedicated observations of this barbaric pastime? One has to give your journal the benefit of a very big doubt.

MARITA STAITE Bargate, Richmond.

Editor’s note: The D&S has always covered the activity of our hunts, before the ban and afterwards.

To the best of our knowledge, none of the hunts in our circulation area has broken the law.