SIR — After reading Mr Dear's letter (Free Press April 2) I went to Moor Wood on Saturday to see what is happening there.

Well, they have certainly cleared a lot out, perhaps just a little too much, but at least you can now see the wartime relics that were so important to the war effort at the time.

I have been told they were built by the British Army so they could train tank crews, and the areas with the concrete plinths were to park up, service the tanks, fuel up and load with live ammunition, then the crews drove the tanks to the gun emplacements for firing practice.

I know this as in 1943 when the British Army moved out, the Governor General Foot Guards of Canada's 4th Armour Division took over the range.

Fifteen Sherman tanks arrived by rail and were driven up to North Hill as the corners leading up the hill were too tight for transporters.

Hence from outside of the hospital's A and E in Blenheim Road, all the corners were converted so no tanks were ever unloaded on North Hill, they were all driven up.

As for the birds, they will survive as they did back in 1943 - the only thing that they don't have now is the gun fire. 

Yes, I am glad that this area has been cleared and can only hope that it will be kept this way now and for the future.

Phil Charlebois,

Blenheim Road,

Minehead.