SEPTEMBER 22 marks the start of Animal Aid's first national anti-shooting week.

Every year in Britain, around 40 million pheasants and partridges are mass-produced, like commercial poultry, so that they can be shot down by wealthy "guns". This bloody and brutal end to their lives is the final insult. From birth they are kept in cages, sheds and pens, in which disease and death are a daily feature.

Because of the enfeeblement that results from being intensively reared, many birds die before they can be gunned down. They perish from exposure, starvation, disease or predation.

Many shot birds are not eaten. Even pro-shooting magazines have reported that some are buried in specially-dug holes.

Killing animals for fun has no place in a civilised society.

For a free anti-shooting action pack, contact Animal Aid on 01732 364546 or go to www. animalaid.org.uk

Mark Miley,

Stanley Street,

Derby.