AT the end of this month, the annual three-day hare coursing event, 'The Waterloo Cup,' will take place at Altcar.

Coursing involves disturbing a hare in open countryside, chasing it into a field then releasing a pair of greyhounds to test their speed.

The hare often becomes the 'rope' in a tug-of-war and is savaged to death before handlers can intervene. Hare coursing is a cruel, mindless activity which satisfies the bloodlust of a minority of sick, evil people who dare to call it 'sport.'

Defenders of such outdated, barbaric pursuits will no doubt be on the 'Freedom' march to London next month. Well, in my book freedom ends when persecution begins and no one should be 'free' to maim and kill animals in the name of 'sport.'

IRENE FOGARTY, Beech Avenue, Chorley.