AT last, the event everyone has been waiting for...the bull is let out of his crate, horns covered in rags which are set alight creating balls of fire above his head.

In terror, the petrified animal runs into the street where he cowers in a corner. People provoke him by throwing stones, beating him with sticks and setting his tail alight.

Two hours later, the bull is stabbed in the neck and his throat is slit. The next morning, his carcass is sold to pay for the horrendous cruelty of the night before.

This barbaric ritual takes place simply to entertain people at a traditional fiesta, mainly to honour a Catholic saint's day. It's clear that the Church plays an active part in these celebrations. It's vital that influential leaders, such as the Pope who are in a position to stop cruel fiestas, know how strongly animal lovers around the world feel about the barbarity being carried out in the name of religion.

Please write to the Pope and ask him to condemn cruelty to animals at religious festivals.

S BRENNAN (Mrs), Bombay Street, Blackburn

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