I READ Bill Hearld's column (Come and have a go, January 23) with interest. He offers, in response to abusive comments on the internet site, to let readers take his column space if they can do better.

I can't see any takers coming forward to take up this offer. He does it so well. One point I'd like to make though, is, in the first column he states: "You also have to put your real name to it (with picture) and take the flak".

He doesn't state whether the picture has to be a recent one, taken ten years ago, or even further back than that. It would be interesting to this reader to know how recent are the photos of the various columnists, his included.

Moira Bewick, Lumley Road, York.