WE now live in a world never more dangerous or unstable. We do not know from day to day where the next threat will come from.

Faced with this, the Government must take immediate steps to strengthen our armed forces which have been cut to a dangerously low level. The Royal Navy now has only 48 warships. It is also deficient in firepower, especially its surface fleet. Not having a single missile cruiser or large nuclear-powered aircraft carrier.

The RAF has only 400 front-line aircraft and the regular Army is only 109,000 strong.

Even during the 1920s and early 30s, Britain was spending a higher proportion of natural income on defence than at present.

JOHN PORTER, Thwaites Road, Oswaldtwistle.