I WAS born nine months before the Second World War broke out. I remember my mother running with my sister and I under her arms to the air-raid shelters where we would stay underground until the bombs had been dropped and the all-clear sounded.

Like Coun Liz Edge (March 18), I don't remember my father until after the war because he was abroad fighting. He too would not talk about the horrors he encountered.

Also, like Liz Edge, I took part in the anti-war demonstration in York on Saturday, March 15 in protest at the proposed war (something I have never done before). I felt strongly that what Bush and Blair were doing was wrong and had to "walk the walk" in protest.

Sadly, Tony Blair refused to listen to any of the thousands of British people who asked him not to join Bush in this war. We were totally ignored.

I voted for Labour in the last two General Elections. I hope in the next General Election the thousands who protested will remember this week, and vote against the man whose only concern was to toady to his best friend.

Sadly, we are at war. Our troops are duty-bound to follow orders and we must give them our full support and pray the war will soon be over, with minimum casualties.

Jean Fawcett,

Howard Drive, York.

Updated: 10:23 Tuesday, March 25, 2003