I FAIL to see why it was necessary for Stephen Lewis in his review of the book North Yorkshire One Nine Nine (The Press, January 27) to give credence to one of the photographs and accompanying poem, contained therein, eulogising the graffiti-covered railway carriages at Constable Burton on the Wensleydale Railway.

Graffiti is one of the many banes of our society which needs to be abhorred, not encouraged by nonsensical references in the book to its "physical similarity to Arabic writing".

The Wensleydale Railway's laudable efforts to run a regular passenger service between Leeming Bar and Redmire in a pleasant environment have undoubtedly been hampered in the past by mindless morons spraying graffiti all over its coaches, thereby putting them out of service to the detriment of potential customers.

Surely there is enough beauty in Wensleydale to photograph and write poetry on, without having to sink as low as to include graffiti.

C A Allenby, West Close, Swinton, Malton.