I agree with John Parry (The Argus, July 4) that fox hunting is socially divisive.

You only have to speak to people who live in villages where the Hunt has its kennels and stables to know about the type of people who go fox hunting.

I lived in Houghton Regis, Bedfordshire, for six years. This was the home of the South Beds Hunt (now defunct).

The only people who could take part in the hunt were gentleman farmers, their families and socially acceptable members of our society.

Men taking part had to wear pink jackets unless they were an officer in the services, in which case they could hunt in uniform.

Other ranks were excluded as were working farmers.

The brighter side was that local youths could always make a few bob by rounding up the loose hounds and riderless horses (as some fool would always fall off).

But the damage done to allotments and people's gardens was irreparable and at that time there was no compensation.

If you, on the other hand, were caught with a ferret within the boundary of the "Hall", the bailiff would let off his shotgun at you.

If a fox managed to get into your chicken run, you dispatched it with a shovel and buried it in the garden.

If you lived in a tied cottage you would be threatened with eviction if you spoilt their "sport".

-Doug Lawrence, Saltdean, Brighton