I WAS delighted to see Marmite, my cat, feature on your letters page (Advertiser, December 7).

Sadly, she was unable to enjoy her fame as she is stuck on my roof at the moment. It's my fault really - I never should have bought her that trampoline.

Anyway, my real reason for writing is to congratulate this Government's marvellous Transport Department on its new idea for creating even longer jams on the M42 near Redditch.

The new garishly illuminated overhead signs which display variable - and varying - speed limits every few hundred metres represent the cleverest way of confusing motorists I've ever seen.

Then we have the recently introduced Highway Agency patrol cars, who park up at the side of the motorway, with their lights flashing, to eat their sandwiches.

The motorist assumes a hazard is imminent and slams on the brakes. The car behind does the same...and so on.

The true genius, though, is the procession of pointless messages that are flashed up on the various electronic sign boards.

Last week they informed us not to drink and drive and not to use our phones while driving. Considering both these activities are illegal - and that most people are aware they are - should I assume it's only a matter of time before I see a motorway sign ordering me not to kill anyone?

Howard Bellaby

Badger Brook Lane,

Astwood Bank