Readers' letters - May 12

As a regular viewer of Britain’s Got Talent, I am having serious doubts about this programme.

Simon Cowell may have impressive credentials for judging new talent but when it comes to deciding who sits on his panels for both The X Factor and Britain’s Got Talent, he is definitely found wanting.

He could not even be bothered to turn up on time for the edition of Saturday, April 30, and left it to the irritatingly unfunny David Walliams to get up to his usual antics of trying to take over the show. What on earth was the point of dragging his mother out of the audience to sit in Cowell’s vacant chair?

Obviously the point being it was more air-time for David Walliams.

This man’s constant winding­up of Cowell is also wrecking the show. Alesha Dixon and Amanda Holden are also past their sell-by dates. The only judges worth having on these shows have been Piers Morgan, Louis Walsh and Dannii Minogue.

But will Cowell listen to what the viewers think?

I doubt it.

Mohammed Ismail,

via email

environment

No cruelty with snares

Bill Oddie’s alarmism, while lambasting the use of snares, shows startling ignorance of the law (Wigan Evening Post, April 25).

Self-locking snares designed to kill have been illegal since 1981.

Modern snares have several features to prevent them from over-tightening, including stops, swivels and break-away links.

Snares are not designed to kill, but to hold animals.

Snares are an essential wildlife management tool which allow the protection of vulnerable species – such as ground-nesting birds – and the preservation of a loving, working countryside.

Glynn Evans,

Head of Game and Deer Management,

British Association for Shooting and Conservation

charity

Take strides and go pink

Like many of your readers, I’ve had close family and friends affected by breast cancer.

That is why I’m encouraging everyone to take a step forward for women with breast cancer this summer and sign up to a Pink Ribbonwalk to raise vital funds for leading charity Breast Cancer Care.

With 5, 10 and 20-mile walks to choose from, you can get together with friends and family in some of the UK’s most beautiful countryside and iconic cities including: Blenheim Palace in Oxfordshire; Polesden Lacey in Surrey; Chatsworth in Derbyshire; Stourhead in Wiltshire; London; and Glasgow.

I’ve taken part in five Pink Ribbonwalks now and it really is so much more than just a day out!

Sadly every year, 60,000 people will receive the devastating news that they have breast cancer.

But with your help, the charity can continue to offer them vital care, support and information, every day, from day one.

Also May is National Walking Month – so really there’s no better time to lace up your boots and take a step forward for women with breast cancer.

You can sign up for a Ribbonwalk near you at www.breastcancercare.org.uk/ribbonwalk

Please join me and lend your support this summer.

Thank you.

Denise Lewis

Breast Cancer Care Ambassador