PRINCE Charles has certainly besmirched his already precarious character, when he invited his son, Prince William to the first autumn's meeting of the Beaufort fox hunt and accompany him in this annual traditional royal medieval, barbaric blood shedding and flesh ripping event which they have the gall to call "sport."

Royalty ought by example to condemn - not condone - this depraved and pathetic activity and respect the overwhelming protests of the British populace.

Alternatively, if he persists in embracing this vile and obnoxious pursuit, he should abdicate in advance.

The government should take heed and keep their election promise on this animal rights issue and stop waffling and wavering when it comes to the crunch of implementation.

J A MARSDEN, Scarborough Road, Blackburn.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.