JON Burgess needs to know that it is because I am very interested in the future of the hare population that I refute his allegations.

The obvious way to conserve any wild animal is to leave it alone and let it live out its life in peace.

I have seen pictures of that beautiful, timid creature the hare, about to be or actually being savaged by dogs. People have told me that they have heard the pathetic, agonised cries of animals being killed by dogs.

These facts and my own commonsense tell me that hare coursing is indeed cruel and barbaric and no amount of pontificating by Mr Burgess and no ambiguous reports will convince me otherwise.

How anyone can condone and encourage such a degrading activity is beyond belief.

Regarding the issue of betting, I would refer Mr Burgess to his letter of June 15 last where he wrote, and I quote: "It has never been a secret that at a few meetings a licensed bookmaker may be present".

So to now insist that there is no betting is very strange!

As for your invitation Mr Burgess, as I have said before, I am too busy undertaking worthwhile projects and have far too much self-respect to demean myself by going within a mile of a hare coursing event.

MARION J LARGE (MRS), Worcester.