I DECIDED just after midday on Sunday to sit quietly and have a cup of tea. The noise from the TV in the other room was audible and what I could hear was voices full of hatred and anger, missiles being launched and articles of furniture smashed up.

With all the hatred and violence, could I be hearing part of the programme about what Churchill feared most during the Second World War -- the German U-boats?

No, it was the most popular programme on TV with the highest viewing figures: EastEnders with brother snarling at brother and husband snarling at his wife and people cheating on each other.

What sad, pathetic lives these characters live with no sense of fun.

Is this how they live in the East End and, if so, what a poor example to our children and grandchildren on how they should behave when they become adults?

It would appear that the scriptwriters are short of material and the same storyline keeps cropping up.

I do have an on/off switch but do catch a glimpse of EastEnders from time to time. I try to avoid this terrible programme like the plague.

I don't dislike all soaps and some do have characters which bring humour to our screens. But in this violent world, we need to see less violence and have more light-hearted entertainment and lead our children by example.

C STITT, Hillside View, Brierfield, Nelson.