THESE days it may be a Weird World – where holiday makers in Southern Russia looked up from the beach to see a distressed donkey parasailing above them (The Press, July 26, Is it a bird, plane… or donkey)?

The people responsible could face two years in prison, if charged and convicted of animal cruelty – which is rightly the view of all animal lovers throughout the world.

But I remember seeing a similar scene set over 70 years ago in a Laurel and Hardy film (Way Out West) and it was considered hilarious!

Stan and Ollie, plus a gin wheel, a donkey, a rope and a bag of burglar tools, all combined to get the animal flying to a first floor balcony – instead of Ollie. These days, Hal Roach the film director would have been locked away in Alcatraz – and the donkey would have been put down for fouling a Blue Flag beach.

It sure is a weird world – but where is the good old humour of yesteryear?

Dale Minks, Ancress Walk, York.