I READ with interest Mrs Moyes letter in which she mourns the loss of 'peace and quite' in the Cotswolds. Since the 70's I have, when opportunity arises, loved visiting the Cotswolds, Stow in particular. I too have noticed the gradual invasion of the 'rat race' into the area. More development, more traffic, less manners and courtesy. A sign of the times it would seem.

There are however still many redeeming attributes to the area, not least it's enduring beauty, particularly in autumn when the golden leaves on the trees blend with the golden stone of the houses. But for myself the jewels in the landscape are your Cotswold pubs.

Where I live nearly all our local pubs have been knocked down, turned into theme bars or allowed to run down to the point no one wants to drink there anymore. The corporate pub owning giants are only interested in the profits gleaned from large city centre establishments - a small local Inn is just a thorn in their side. Residents of the Cotswolds are lucky to still benefit from pubs and inns owned by the smaller breweries the like of Hook Norton and of course Donnington (surely one of the finest beers in the known universe?) - historic inns, serving fine ales and fayre. Places where, on the whole, good manners can still be found along with a proper 'local' atmosphere.

I am a great believer that a proper 'local' pub should be the hub of any community, a place where people from all walks of life can mix and socialise - a blend which hopefully can slow the intrusion and symptoms of the rat race.

Take great care of these Cotswold 'jewels' - use them as often as you can because if they are lost the whole essence of the area will be lost.

MIKE VILLAGE, Forest Way, Hollywood, Birmingham.