I AM sorry Mr and Mrs Bell feel unhappy about the funeral parlour near their home (Evening Press, June 4).

I can think of many other businesses that are far worse - a garage, public house, nightclub, supermarket, amusement arcade or leisure centre, to name but a few.

All of these attract the public in large numbers with the accompanying danger of break-ins, noise and violence.

In our pleasant village of Escrick, we live very close to an abattoir.

What I find upsetting is the sad sound of animals taking their last journey, and crying out against their helplessness and the injustice of it all. Unfortunately, like abattoirs, funeral parlours are a necessary part of society, and one that is quiet, well-run, accepted and appreciated by other neighbours cannot be a bad addition to the locality.

Heather Causnett,

Escrick Park Gardens,

Escrick,

York.

Updated: 10:03 Friday, June 08, 2001