The story about the "terrorist" art student reminded me of a similar tale from Canada that happened during the Quebecois separatist movement - a time during which the Mounties achieved almost legendary status for their incompetence and bungling.

A 14-year-old student had written an essay describing Santa Claus as a communist because he wore red and was distributing gifts to undermine the free-market system.

Because any left-leaning group was instantly regarded as subversive, the student was arrested and grilled by the Mounties and told if he ever wrote anything like it again his future would be blighted and he would be lucky if he got a job better than a roadsweeper.

I can only assume Boots is trying to boost its sales of digital cameras by putting normal people off entering its shops ever again to have film developed.

It is not clear under which law the police were able to destroy these photographs but I am very troubled The Argus compounded the worries of the Sussex Police by distributing one of the "concerning" images all over the South Coast.

Has The Argus become a branch of Al-Qaida? As Voice of The Argus pointed out, it is a time for concern but we should also be concerned about creating an atmosphere of hysteria.

Watch out for a "Protect and survive" poster coming to a billboard near you.

-Mike Stoakes, Ditchling Rise, Brighton