MILLIONS of birds across northern Europe, including some from Britain, face an uncertain future as 15 governments - including the UK - are trying to strike an outrageous behind-the-scenes deal overturning Europe's bird protection laws by allowing the shooting or trapping in spring of nine species of bird in Malta.

If agreed, this deal, nothing more than a sweetener to aid Malta's entry to the European Union, will undermine two decades of bird protection in Europe.

Any concession given to Malta's bird hunters and trappers will risk becoming permanent and will only encourage other southern European countries to return to the mass killing of migratory birds, such as turtle dove, quail, goldfinch and greenfinch, the EU Birds Directive was designed to halt.

Readers of the Evening News are urged to write to: Rt Hon Peter Hain MP, Minister for Europe, Foreign and Commonwealth Office, King Charles Street, London SW1A 2AH to ask him to say "no."

ALISTAIR GAMMELL,

RSPB, The Lodge, Sandy

Bedfordshire SG19 2DL.