UNLIKE Professor John Ashton (Letters, November 6), I believe the fuel protesters were acting in the best interests of the vast majority of people in Britain. In all opinion polls taken at the time, the vast majority supported them.

In view of the costly litigation cases brought and won against the National Health Service, I would like to thank Professor Ashton, its regional medical officer, for explaining how certain parts of the NHS were in crisis after just a few days of a fuel 'blockade.' It came as no surprise.

After nearly six years of a German blockade against Britain during World War Two we lost 3,000 ships, many carrying oil, with 35,000 merchant seamen losing their lives.

I am sure I speak for many when I say the health service we had then was in better shape than some parts of the NHS recently.

BERT HARDWICK, Queensway, Waddington, Clitheroe.