IT never ceases to shock me that there are people, like Giles Bradshaw, Points of view, Echo, April 3 and 4, who spend so much time trying to mislead the public over the cruel and barbaric sport of hunting with dogs.

There are those who are seemingly so out of touch with the common decency shared by most of us concerning cruelty to animals, that they openly promote the cruel and terrifying practice of setting a pack of dogs onto a wild animal, chasing it to exhaustion and then tearing it apart.

As a member of the Labour Party, I am in no doubt that when decent backbenchers realise what is really happening in the countryside — and many of them are starting to judging by the signatures on Early Day Motion 122 calling for the Hunting Act to be strengthened — that the Government will be forced to listen.

Therefore, please could I ask readers who abhor cruelty to help the backbenchers to put pressure on the Government, by writing to your MP asking them to write to Prime Minister Gordon Brown on your behalf, requesting an amendment to the Hunting Act of a recklessness clause of "cause or permit"? This will stop the huntsman claiming that it was only an accident when a fox, deer, hare or mink is chased and killed by hounds.

Please also remember that Conservative leader David Cameron and his front bench of pro-hunters have said they will repeal the ban if elected into power.

Helen Weeks

West Coker Hill, Somerset

(by email)