OF course there is a north-south divide (December 9). It is alive and kicking.

Why on earth would any sane person willingly, even for a short while, want to live south of the Yorkshire border?

We have on our doorstep one of the most beautiful areas in the United Kingdom, namely the Yorkshire Dales with its rolling hills, high peaks, character pubs and character people. There are also the North York Moors, Cleveland Hills and the jewel of England, the Lake District, not forgetting the Highlands of Scotland just a few hours' drive away.

The best real ales in the land are brewed in Yorkshire and I feel qualified to state it is truly horrible down south, in fact our Yorkshire Water puts it to shame.

We have a nice little lifestyle in God's county thank you.

To be fair I have met the odd southerner who has dared to stray into these wild and woolly areas, usually the more robust of the species who in their concrete jungles would think it very adventurous to cross a river into the unknown.

It must be said it is not entirely barren down south. The west coast in Cornwall has its points, as does Snowdonia and parts of Hampshire can be quaint.

The rest they can keep.

If any of our southern friends clap their eyes on this, you actually live in the most gorgeous part of the UK - because up here in the frozen North it is grim, nowt but cloth caps, whippets and warm beer. Yuk. Please stay down there.

Bob Waite,

Windmill Rise,

Holgate, York.

Updated: 09:10 Tuesday, December 13, 2005