I FEEL compelled to reply to R J M Lobell (Letters, May 21) regarding the Kosovo refugees.

First, who does he consider he is to state categorically that we do not welcome unwanted refugees and outcasts from other nations?

To make such a rash statement is hypocritical and unchristian.

Please, get your facts correct - Kosovo is not a Third World country and many of the refugees are professional people, just like you and I.

In addition, they have a health service, education facilities and all the other western services. As Mr Loebell cannot get his facts correct regarding this war-torn country, does this also infer the facts stated are also incorrect regarding the unemployment in this country and the statistics relating to poverty and housing?

These unfortunate individuals, men, women, children and babies, have suffered unimaginable cruelty from fellow human beings under a beast of a dictator.

They have not asked to be made homeless and become refugees. All they were trying to do was live peacefully with one another, as you and I would wish to do.

I hope that he never finds himself in a similar situation and has to tolerate such unjustified comments.

ADA M GARNER (Mrs), Windermere Avenue, Clitheroe.

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