COULD all readers who care about cruelty to animals please write to the Honourable Peter Luff, Minister for Defence Equipment, Support and Technology, and ask him to stop using real black bear fur for the Queen’s Guards’ caps.

It takes the hide of one bear to make one cap. The use of real bear fur was questioned as long ago as 1888. Why is this still happening? One in seven hunted bears does not die instantly, but dies a slow and agonising death from starvation, blood loss or infection.

The fur looks better on a live bear. Use faux fur. Please send your letters to Ingrid E Newkirk, PETA, Crawley, RH10 9PY.

D Fillingham, The Crossway, York.