IN response to Madeleine Hill’s letter, June 25, my heart isn’t made of stone. My heart goes out to poor Madeleine McCann, who in my opinion was abandoned by so-called professional people who should have known better.

Parents are supposed to watch their children, not leave them so they can go and have a drink and a bite to eat. If they had behaved like responsible parents we wouldn’t be having letters written about this.

I and my wife have brought three boys up and never have and never would leave them alone in a room so we could go out and have a drink.

If they were charged with child neglect it might make other parents think twice about abandoning their children. Children are precious; take them with you.

Mr D Fillingham, The Crossway, York.