WE now live in a world never more violent, dangerous and unstable.

We do not know from day to day where the next threat will come from.

It's a good job we have retained our nuclear weapons. However, following defence cuts going back over 40 years our armed forces are now at a dangerously low level.

The Royal Navy is short of aircraft carriers, destroyers, frigates and submarines and hasn't got a single cruiser.

The Royal Air Force is short of fighter and bomber aircraft and the army simply has insufficient personnel.

The government must therefore start a rearmamnet programme. Of course, it will cost money but it is a price we have to pay in order to preserve our freedom, security and possible survival.

JOHN PORTER, Thwaites Road, Oswaldtwistle.