The Evening Press has an excellent record of support for cancer charities. You conducted a vigorous and successful fund-raising campaign for the cancer centre at York District Hospital.

From time to time you produce special supplements for York Against Cancer, you are supporting the hospice appeal, and you publish useful articles on cancer awareness.

So it is strange and sad that you are once again happy to accept a series of advertisements for cigarettes of a brand which emphasises cheapness - "20 quality smokes for just £2.99".

These advertisements are large and colourful with a series of catchy slogans ("You don't need a stash of cash/ wads of wonga/ pots of cash (etc) to smoke 'em").

They seem to be aimed at very young people, no doubt a promising growth market.

The placing of the advertisement on April 14 was especially odd, as it actually adjoins a feature publicising a fund-raising event for the hospice.

Mrs K Kirman,

Pulleyn Drive,

York.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.