What makes Jo Jones (April 11) think that 80 per cent of our fellow citizens of 'European descent' are Anglo-Saxon?

What of the likelihood that most who share his/her surname will identify as Welsh? And the further irony is that 'Welsh' is the Anglo-Saxon (i.e. the North German) for 'foreigner', the term the incomers used to describe the native Britons.

Some of us rejoice in the fact that Britain has long been a mulicultural country, long before it became obligatory to dismiss the whole notion as inappropriate political correctness.

Patrick Morrow,

Stephenson Way,

York.

...Despite the obvious provocation of Jo Jones that Britain is an Anglo-Saxon nation, I am compelled to respond.

Britain is a mongrel country of Britons, Celts, Scots, Picts, Romans, Angles, Saxons, Jutes, Vikings, Normans, Jews, Huguenots, members of the Empire and Commonwealth, and many more groups.

From that mix we have been given a rich cultural heritage.

Alternatively, we can kick out all these immigrants, starting with those who claim Anglo-Saxon descent!

Dr Duncan Campbell,

Albemarle Road,

York.

Updated: 09:51 Friday, April 13, 2001