NEVER mind the fact that thousands of young men from many countries may die in the next few months - women widowed, children left fatherless - no, be afraid, be very afraid - the banana faces extinction! Lord help us all.

I'm sure when our poor boys and girls are in the middle of the most dreadful conditions in the Gulf, the last thing that should bother us is the demise of the banana.

Shall we stockpile spinach, guard greengages, cosset cabbages and pamper potatoes, or shall we worry about young lives about to be extinguished for no apparent reason?

Let's get real, let's decide what's important for the future - survival comes highly on my list, with or without a blasted banana.

Ella Hirst,

Coggan Close,

South Bank, York.

Updated: 09:06 Saturday, January 25, 2003