I read Jo Haywood's column religiously every week and sometimes I think we were separated at birth.

This week's column about how scary it is letting our children out of our sight for more than a couple of minutes struck a particular chord.

I have three children aged three, seven and ten and, like Jo, I spent my formative years pedalling for miles on my bike with my chums, coming home at tea time or when we were hungry. Summer holidays meant freedom.

Growing up in New Earswick, we had acres and acres of fields to play in, becks to paddle in, trees to clamber in. So why does letting my children do the same strike fear into me? I have a couple of theories.

It's not my kids I don't trust, it's the other ones, older children who may take a fancy to their bikes, pocket money, trainers etc.

The other theory is regarding the darker element of our society - or as Jo put it, men with pockets full of puppies.

These people were around when we were kids but we didn't know what they would do to us if we were caught by one. Today's media - newspapers, television etc - tell us about this nightly, in graphic detail.

Perhaps there are more people who prey on children in our society today. Or perhaps not, perhaps we are just more aware of all the dangers than our parents were when we were growing up.

Is this a good thing or has awareness made us more paranoid and ultimately more restrictive?

Our children will always be the most precious things in our lives but I worry that denying them the freedom we once had will impact on future generations, making society seem more dangerous than it really is.

Jenny Cammidge,

Ouseburn Avenue,

York.

Updated: 09:23 Thursday, August 04, 2005