HOWARD ROPER-Smythe's courage in braving the tangle of David Icke's web (Citizen Letters p. 16, 18 Oct 2001) inspired me to have a go too. Words (almost) fail me. God-snakes and space-lizards taking over planet earth in ancient times? Yes, giant lizards did rule the world, it's true, but they made a mess of it and died out several million years ago. Mr Icke ought to keep abreast of the times. Lancaster is way ahead of Mr Icke in lizard mythology, anyway: who built Scale Hall? Why is there a dragon/dinosaur-sculpture in a children's play area in Williamsons Park? Why, if you join the Priory, Atticus Book-Shop and Kwik-Save, do you get a perfect triangle (not to mention an improving day out)? And didn't our own Citizen Smith confess to being a reptile last week? Icke's suggestion that politicians have the scaly reptilian power of changing themselves into something else at will won't come as a surprise to Lancaster folk, certainly. And anyway, Lancaster weather would soon render any cold-blooded reptile senseless. They'd have to huddle in the Butterfly House to survive. And if that didn't take the edge off their plans for world domination, we could move a houseful of freshers in next door. Giant alien reptiles v. Lancaster University students in party mood? the smart money's on the students every time!

Anne Sweeney Bowerham Road Lancaster