I HAVE been cooking for almost 70 years and I have seen many changes in the way we eat and how we buy our food. I love the enthusiasm we are beginning to show for locally produced food.

But I do believe we should all think carefully about the welfare of the animals reared for our tables and help support farmers who raise their livestock to high welfare standards.

Please can readers look out for food that has come from farms where welfare is a priority - like those who are members of the RSPCA's Freedom Food scheme. In the last 10 years, Freedom Food has improved the welfare standards for over 150million animals and has 44 accredited members in Lancashire.

MARGUERITE PATTEN OBE, London.