Paul Ward, in one fell swoop, labelled the great majority of people in this country, apart from immigrants and asylum seekers both legal and illegal, as lazy and incompetent in his insulting assumption that the rest of us do not try hard enough. He then castigated the media and politicians for using up too much energy over this subject.

Those sort of remarks go far towards fuelling prejudice and racism. The reason large numbers of illegal asylum seekers come to this country is they know full well the chances of being caught and removed are minimal.

John Parry was right, as usual, when he wrote that immigration into this country is dispiriting. It has had a detrimental effect not only on this country's way of life but, increasingly, its identity. It is no coincidence that social cohesion and local communities have been destroyed in all but name by the large-scale influx of immigrants and asylum seekers.

There are people who benefit greatly from the continuing influx of asylum seekers into the UK. They are the private landlords who make millions out of the system and, of course, the countless numbers of legal professionals who help refugees with their appeals.

-D A Coles, Derek@coles60.freeserve.co.uk