IN last week's newspaper Mike Lunney, founder of the Malvern-based Middle-ground Theatre company described the town as England's 'best kept secret' and so it is.

One of the biggest barriers to the town's development is that so many who live here would like to keep it that way!

We should be pleased by any publicity that helps to spread the name of Malvern, such as the hills being named this week by the Good Dog Campaign as one of the top places in the country to walk your dog.

For many walking the hills with their dog will be one of the great pleasures in life, but for others who like to enjoy the hills without a dog, their pleasure can be spoilt by the mess left behind by thoughtless dog owners.

Malvern Hills Conservators say there is no question of making any part of hills dog-free, but it is perhaps the only answer if a minority of dog owners continue to abuse the privilege we enjoy by being able to walk freely through one of the most beautiful (and secret) places in the country.

CHRISTIAN groups in this country seem to be following those in America by becoming increasingly 'political'.

Everyone has a right to protest but there is something distasteful about targeting alternative therapies, which only exist to help people. Are not both to some degree a question of faith?

Talking about legitimate protest, the members of Ledbury Hunt who 'invaded' the House of Commons last year were found guilty of disorderly conduct and given a conditional discharge at court yesterday, a fair verdict but was the whole case really worth the cost?