27 APRIL 2002, Page 32

Let spiders live

From Mr Basil Highton

Sir: As an arachnophile I deplore Mr Gosling's advice (Letters, 20 April) to Lord Mancroft to stop killing mammals and to stamp on a few spiders. Suppose Lord Mancroft were to embark on a spider-hunt, fortified by a silver goblet of cherry brandy, accompanied by like-minded toffs in expensive spider-squashing footwear, chasing these frightened creatures from their webs without mercy or thought for the abandoned spiderlings — would Mr Gosling really approve? Basil High ton

Norwich