I JUST had to respond to C D Lewis's letter, Wrong image (Letters, April 6). I read the previous responses to the gnomes in Goodramgate and had a chuckle at how something so trivial could create such a response.

I walked past the shop with my mother and we both thought the gnomes were quite amusing, so did a group of tourists in front of us, and they did not appear to find them offensive. I then got home and read the paper and couldn't believe that these novelties were still creating such a fuss.

I'm quite an open-minded girl. I do have morals and standards but about things which really matter, such as the growing number of homeless people in our city centre or the rising number of drug related crimes. I work in tourism, although not in York.

York is one of the most beautiful cities in the UK with fantastic architecture, museums, shopping centres and people. Please, people of York, get a life and appreciate all the good that York has to offer.

Remember that we are now in 2002 and laugh a little at the things that don't matter and concentrate your efforts on the things that we should be concerned about!

Kelly Ruddock,

Fordlands Road, Fulford, York

Updated: 10:30 Tuesday, April 09, 2002