DURING the recent hot weather my wife and I left a large bowl of fresh water every day at the end of our drive with a notice saying: "For Thirsty Animals". Imagine our delight when we returned home one day to find on our doorstep a carrier bag with a notice attached that said "For Hungry Animal Lovers". It contained an expensive-looking lemon sponge cake.

Our thanks to the anonymous donor. The cake tasted lovely and reinforced our belief that the world (or, at least, North Yorkshire) isn't such a bad place after all.

Richard M. Billinge,

Heworth Village, York.

Updated: 10:42 Thursday, August 21, 2003