My family refer to me as Victor Meldrew so, in the words of my alter ego: "I don't belieeeeeeve it!" Sledging dangerous! Rubbish. ('Carry on sledging!' November 21).

Conkers, yo-yo, marbles etc banned? What absolute rot! What are we breeding? A generation of mollycoddled, cotton wool-wrapped wimps.

Where did these so-called "experts" from Aberdeen carry out their research - on the slopes of Ben Nevis or in Glen Coe? Have we followed the American example and become a nation of litigants?

Before we know it egg-and-spoon races will be banned for fear of contamination from salmonella or some such similar poisonous substance.

No wonder today's youngsters complain of having nothing to do, they have been denied the basic pleasures and adventures of childhood.

Well done to City of York Council for taking a sensible approach and letting youngsters enjoy their childhood pleasures without strangling them with petty, politically-correct bureaucracy.

A Dobinson,

Askham Lane, York.

Updated: 11:11 Tuesday, November 25, 2003