I DID hope that Hilton Dawson, after reading The Burns Report on hunting with dogs (which was commissioned so that "MPs would be better informed"), would therefore approach the subject with an open mind, because in the past he has displayed woeful ignorance on country sports and countryside matters.

However, lo and behold, I hear him on Radio Lancashire on Monday lunchtime, June 12 (even before the Home Secretary has disclosed to Parliament the contents of the report) condemning hunting as barbaric.

Given the above, if I were an innocent defendant in a very high profile trial with all the attendant publicity, I would hate to see Hilton on the jury - knowing now that he would be unable to separate fact from emotion.

Richard Charlesvia e-mail