SIR — I was interested to read in 'This Was The News' of 50 years ago that a warden was to be appointed who would "be able to deal with litter louts who throw rubbish out of car windows" (Free Press March 15).

As the suitable candidate was to be aged 40 to 50 years he would be a bit long in the tooth by now, but is anybody taking any action against these litter louts today?

Judging by the state of the verges and hedgerows, obviously not.

I have lived in this beautiful area for two years and in this time, during my walks, have cleared a four-mile stretch of the A396 and the three-mile length of Hollam Lane, collecting sackfuls of litter every week.

My husband calls me "the bag lady" but I don't mind admitting that I have reached the age where what other people think doesn't bother me too much!

What possesses people to defile the countryside like this? There must surely be other like-minded people out there - could we not organise litter-picking patrols?

One question that I would like answered - we are 15 miles from both Minehead and Tiverton and the nearest Macdonalds, so why do people dump their Macdonalds rubbish here?!

Betty Gibbens,