I read Matthew Woodcock's article about giving up TV for Lent with interest (YEP 14th April 2006).

I am as guilty as the next person for sitting in front of the television on an evening, rather than doing a more productive activity.

However, lately I have begun to realise that I can live without TV, especially the poor quality terrestrial programmes which pass themselves off as entertainment.

I am writing to promote TV Turn-off Week which runs from April 24-30.

The campaign is organised by White Dot (www.whitedot.org)in this country and is part of an international campaign to encourage people to switch off for a week.

Thousands of people will be taking part in a week of TV abstinence.

Have a party, join a club, read a book, learn a new language, you will be amazed at how much spare time you will have when you ditch the animated furniture in the corner of the room.

For example, if you currently watch the three main soap operas on TV you are spending 14 hours a week in front of the television, which is more than eight per cent of your life, a very considerable investment of your time.

So join us from April 24 and turn off your TV for a week. After all, will you really miss such shows as Beauty And The Geek, Wife Swap and Jordan And Peter: Marriage And Mayhem.

Andrew Collingwood,

Turners Croft,

Heslington,

York.

Updated: 09:57 Monday, April 17, 2006