SIR – I write in response to your article about the “turducken”, the Christmas roast created by a Worcester butcher from the corpses of a turkey, a duck and a chicken (“Butcher’s three bird roast goes to charity”, Worcester News, December 2).
Of course, it’s very praiseworthy to want to raise money for charity, but also sad that this should be done in a way that involves horrific suffering for animals.
This is because almost all of the 15 million turkeys, 10 million ducks and 850 million chickens consumed annually in this country are reared in the most appalling factory farm conditions, before being slaughtered, often by very cruel methods, at just a small fraction of their natural lifespan.
There is absolutely no need for all this suffering or for any creature to be reared and slaughtered for human consumption, as we can live perfectly well on a diet free from animal products, which would also benefit the environment and our own health.
RONALD LEE
Worcestershire Vegans & Veggies

Air strikes on Syria too late and too expensive 
SIR – This government is now using the RAF to bomb targets in Syria, acting too late after the Paris attacks. 
Every country we have attacked in the Middle East has not attacked Britain.
Remember Blair’s WMD lie, that Saddam Hussein can attack Britain in 45 minutes?
Cameron is now bombing the people he was aiding for the past few years.
Soon there will be no Middle Eastern country we haven’t bombed or attacked.
To send one RAF Tornado aircraft on one strike mission costs the taxpayer £580,000.
This money could be better spent here in Britain, sorting out Britain’s problems first. 
To stop further terrorist attacks, sealing off Europe’s borders is more effective.
I’m sure the people of Worcester can list urgent areas that need funding. 
CARL MASON
Worcester BNP

Upside down flag symbol is spot on
SIR – I yawned whilst reading Gerry Taggart’s attack on UKIP last week regarding an upside-down flag picture discussed on a UKIP website.
The last word of his rant was ‘embarrassed’. I’m sure that’ll be in his mind again when he realises the following.
1. An upside down flag’s an internationally accepted symbol, flown when one feels their country’s in trouble (the very message intended by the Hampshire man who took the picture, 12 months ago).
2. The picture already made national news last year, for its message. 
3. The picture’s been doing the rounds on the internet for 12 months, it’s not new.  Did Mr Taggart miss last November’s story?

Maybe he’s unaware of the symbolism of an upside-down flag? Perhaps he accidentally-on-purposely misinterpreted its message, with typically leftist faux offence? 
He must also check his dictionary definition of the word ‘fascist’. His implication that those who disagree with him are fascists (whilst attacking in print those who disagree with him...), is so painfully ironic, it’s hard to put into words. 
We face terror threats, cuts to public services, shameful treatment of junior doctors. 
Next year, foreign aid spending will exceed police spending and the EU demands we give up our seat on the UN Security Council. Our Armed Forces are slashed yet we face war in the Middle East… Surely the message of an upside down flag and a country in trouble is spot on?
OWEN CLEARY
Worcester

Norway pays but has no say within the EU 
SIR – One is entitled to wonder, given former Tory councillor Frances Lankester’s recent contributions, whether his espousal of a UKIPean world-view has caused him the discomfort of a split allegiance and an adverse effect on his critical and analytical faculties.
Certainly, his latest (Letters, 27.11.’15) is shocking in its unreality. Essentially, every independent and well-informed commentator has known, for ever, that Norway pays a substantial contribution (not “the same” per cap. as Britain: I did not say that, Frances) to the EU in order to be able to trade with the EU, and yet has absolutely no say in the formulation of its trading rules and protocols.
No amount of head-in-the-sand denial of this by such folk as Mr. Lankester, especially on such overtly spurious grounds, can alter what are widely, freely and long-standing available facts, independently calculated and verified.
Let’s debate, by all means, whether Norway’s position is a good one which we should emulate or a disadvantageous one which we should not fall into as a result, shall we say, of gross misunderstanding and misrepresentation.
The terms of its position are just not in question, and it is simply embarrassing to engage on that imaginary basis.
DAVID BARLOW
Worcester

Shame that bridge is left looking unfestive
SIR – What a shame that yet again no one saw fit to put Christmas decorations on the new bridge in Evesham. 
It’s not surprising that people are so disappointed in Evesham. 
This is supposed to be the main road into the town. Hardly welcoming at this time of year! 
SANDY JAMES
Evesham