THE latest dogfight in your letters pages between Mr Griffiths of Bulmer and Mr Ward of Tollerton seems to relate towards noise and the disturbance it causes in our countryside.

Mr Griffiths implies the polluter should always pay.

But why? The RAF base has been there and active for many decades, for the benefit of us all.

Would Mr Griffiths buy a house next to a pig farm and then close down the farmer's operation to remove the odours and any noise for his own benefit?

If you know about an airfield in the locality is it not unreasonable to assume there could be, um, aeroplanes? They make a noise.

I can get irritated by late night sorties over my chimney pot.

However, I support our lads and their training so we all continue to live in relative peace. As for your dogfight; it looks as if Mr Ward is the one who gets to go home to his family!

W. Mac McAdam,

The Village,

Haxby, York.

...I congratulate Mike Holden for coming to the defence of the Tucano and the vital roll it plays in training our pilots (Letters, February 19).

The next time anyone gets their feathers ruffled by the odd Tucano flying overhead, spare a thought for the many people of York and its surrounding villages who have to work shifts, and particularly night shifts and have to try and sleep during the day.

The endless noise of traffic thundering over the godforsaken speed humps, the DIY-ers playing with their latest power tool, the gardeners and their screaming electric lawn mowers, people who let their dogs bark all day, the budding young Beckhams practising their football skills outside your bedroom window... the list goes on.

So the odd Tucano buzzing overhead is nothing compared with the noise the rest of the world makes.

Karl Bateman,

Meadow Lane,

Haxby,

York.

Updated: 10:01 Thursday, February 26, 2004