WHAT a pity the Armistice Day service in York on Sunday was spoiled by the scruffy state of the gardens and, in particular, the litter-strewn shrubberies around the perimeter.

These had clearly not been cleared for many weeks and to present them as appropriate for such a solemn and moving occasion was another example of how York's standards have been allowed to decline in recent years.

The rose beds contain plants which are years old. One of them bears a plaque in commemoration of a wrongly celebrated "Year Of Peace, 1986" and I would suggest that the rose bushes it contains should have RIP inscribed alongside them!

Let's put our parks and gardens back into the care of proper, council-employed gardeners.

P S Fowler,

Bramble Dene, York.

Updated: 11:39 Wednesday, November 14, 2001