YORK-born Martin Hathaway noticed that unborn geese were being destroyed "on a recent visit to the city" (August 19).

Where does he live?

If, like me, he had to walk along Terry Avenue under Skeldergate Bridge and, on my return, along Kings Staith and then past the pedestrian crossing near Clifford's Tower, every day, he may think differently.

The delightful, talented Dame Judi Dench is extremely welcome to a few hundred of these unwanted geese.

And while on the subject of pests, I despair each morning at the misguided woman who feeds bags full of bread throughout the summer months to an ever-increasing number of pigeons; flying rats as described by the national papers, near Skeldergate Bridge.

Hopefully, they too could become the subject of a cull to destroy adult birds and their unhatched eggs.

T R Johnson,

Waterfront House,

Clementhorpe,

York.

Updated: 10:21 Tuesday, August 23, 2005