THE effect of the poppy-burning incident will be very different from what those who did it imagined.

As the days following their grand gesture pass, it will show them why they or their parents decided that the UK was the right place to make their home.

Many Britons, like Mr Henson and Mr Willey (Letters, November 16), are understandably angry and resent the insult; but they know that it is not the British way to respond with petty, public gestures and exchange of insults.

The poppy-burners and their sympathisers, since they live here, will know that a majority of the population, including many servicemen and ex-servicemen, cannot see the point of our involvement in the war in Afghanistan, and are making their views known to our politicians. Insulting dead soldiers simply plays into the hands of the warmongers.

There are democratic ways of working to bring an end to military interventionism.

Join the debate.

Maurice Vassie, Deighton, York.