I wondered when I would start to see FOREST's annual snipe at No Smoking Day - the UK's highly successful and popular programme to help people who want to stop smoking.

As usual, FOREST misses the point.

A million people willingly have a go at stopping smoking on No Smoking Day each year - not because we go around bashing them but because they want to stop smoking.

I must say I am surprised that your correspondent is so ill-informed about people's preference to smoke-free air - smokers and non-smokers alike approve of restrictions on smoking in public places.

I am even more surprised that, for someone who shouts about freedom, he shows such lack of respect for smokers' freedom to quit in peace - two thirds of them want to, and most of them find smoke-free areas a real help.

I'd invite Mr Ball and his gang to leave them alone and I'd invite establishments who are considering restricting smoking to do so with confidence - you have nothing to lose but your cleaning bills.

Doreen McIntyre,

Chief Executive,

No Smoking Day,

Baldwins Gardens,

London.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.