ON Friday Roger Scruton, a philosopher who apparently lives in Wiltshire, appeared on Newsnight, making what he thought was a mockery of the ban on hunting with hounds by pursuing mice with dogs.

I had always assumed that a philosopher had some degree of wisdom.

He seems to have completely missed the point about the campaign to end hunting with dogs.

It is all about respecting the life of a living thing and, in particular, if you must take their life doing so in a reasonably humane way.

Ghandi, a philosopher he may have heard of, said, "The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated." Argue with that if he can.

I find his so-called stand, pointless, trivial and childish. He should be ashamed.

I note that on his own website he is said to be subject to "vilification and rejection by the academic establishment." Well, I say!

P DIVALL

Trowbridge

MOST of us are thoroughly pleased with the prospect of fox hunting following bear baiting and other cruel sports into history.

Our MPs in the House of Commons at Westminster are our elected representatives. The overwhelming majority have voted to end hunting with dogs.

Chasing wild animals for fun can no longer be tolerated by a civilised society. As it is now illegal, this cruel activity will inevitably fade into obscurity over time.

I am concerned that the animal-hunting minority, who have not sustained their selfish ways by democratic or legal means, may still try to put unfair pressure on the wider public.

If, on the other hand, the hunters were to sportingly concede that they have lost the game and were to fully reorganise themselves as drag hunts, they might regain some respect.

J BOWLEY

Warminster