WE WERE shocked and appalled at the blatant homophobic diatribe under the headline 'Flush them out' on the front page of the Citizen (February 23).

If this was not your intention it was not stated with sufficient clarity and subject to misinterpretation.

It is agreed that sexual acts in public places - between persons of either gender - are unacceptable, being intimidating for members of the public. However, to use the phrase 'flocking into the resort to gratify their sick habit' is not acceptable. It proclaims the problem to be on a vast scale, which is surely unrealistic.

The introduction of an anti-cottaging poster campaign will only have the effect of exacerbating local homophobic trend - perhaps better regulation of these conveniences would be a better solution.

We are sure that you will find some wqay to rectify this confusion and that similar implications will be avoided in the future.

J Aldridge, N Turner, S C Bate, Lancaster.