I AM writing in response to the article featured in last week's Journal concerning the 'Hunt Meet' on Boxing Day in Broadway and Kineton.

For numerous, consecutive years myself and many friends have protested in peace against hunting with hounds in Broadway and it has always saddened me to realise that Christmas, which should be full of goodwill and empathy to all, is never free of the bloodshed and brutality of which the hunt inflicts. I feel obliged to explain why I failed to protest this year and it is because of the sole reason that I feared for my safety. Being a young female, male hunters have on occasion directed their anger towards me in aggressive manner and I am well aware that I am not the only female protestor with a tale to tell. This only strengthens the argument that cruelty to animals coincides with cruelty to people. Local supporting anti hunting groups had also urged protestors not to attend local hunts in consideration of the ill feeling of the country alliance in regards to the recent issue of the hunting bill; this ill feeling highlighted by the violence-threatening letters penned by the country alliance.

I also must note that the population of the Cotswolds exceeds many thousands, so in this respect the number of hunt supporters was relatively poor. I conclude on a more optimistic note, hopeful that this may be one of the last letters I write on the issue of hunting. Hunting with dogs will be eventually banned and the brutality of it will be a distant memory, ready to take its place in history and join the 'sports' of the past alongside bear and badger baiting and cock fighting.

MISS CHARLOTTE MOYSE, Abbot Chryrtons Place, Evesham.