I am unhappy about the signs showing distance in kilometres along Eastbourne's seafront. After all, traffic distance signs in this country must by law be in yards or miles - it is even unlawful to give a metric equivalent.

I called the borough council's health walks co-ordinator, who explained the council originally wanted the signs along the three-and-a-half mile health walk in traditional units.

However, the Irish Heart Foundation, which created the walk as part of an international scheme, insisted on metric units, otherwise it would not permit its internationally-renowned Sli logo (standing for Sli na Slainte or Way to Health) to be used.

Obviously, we English have only to be given an order by a foreign body and we roll over and comply, even in matters which should be our own business.

-Andrew Dakyns, Holywell Close, Eastbourne