SIR — Well! where do you start in response to Mrs Sunningdale's letter last week, it was so full of woe and feelings of unhappiness with her lot in life and it's all due to her living on terrible nasty Exmoor.

There is a quick solution that many Exmoor people would probably recommend, but let's look at some of her gripes!

Why live in an area like Exmoor which has for centuries been linked with hunting, shooting and fishing? Why do people move here if they know this is the way of life on Exmoor and, of course, is of huge benefit to many rural businesses such as pubs, B and Bs, stables etc. These were all here when you arrived.

I chose to live here after spending many happy years visiting on holiday. We had an opportunity to move here and couldn't believe our good fortune.

We have slowly but surely integrated ourselves into the local community, joined in various social events and activities, and found the local people welcoming, honest, friendly and with a fantastic community spirit, of which field sports play an important and crucial part in the whole ethos of Exmoor.

What they do not like is "incomers" complaining of not having a sushi bar or Mcdonalds in Exford, or pedestrian crossings for pheasants!

On the subject of field sports, I have to inform her that hunting has been illegal for a few years now, and I am sure there are a few gamekeepers who can put her right about excess pheasants, most of which I am reliably informed are sent to Europe for processing, so no waste.

I do agree that the question of badgers and TB is still unresolved but there is growing evidence to come down in favour of some kind of cull to be carried out.

What hunters, shooters, farmers etc strive to achieve is to maintain the staus quo and the balance of nature. Like it or not nature needs our help to achieve this and keep it at a manageable level for the benefit of everyone on Exmoor including the wildlife.

When I am up on the moors, whether in rain, sleet, snow or sunshine, I wouldn't want to be anywhere else in the world.

Ade Clarke,

Exford.