SORRY Mr Les Fox, but I'm not among your greatest fans. I quite often don't find your letters as amusing as other readers may.

I usually keep quiet about my response to some of your offerings, but on this occasion felt I wanted to respond.

You perhaps should not have replied to Mr Burn's letter, as you appeared to have completely missed his point.

I firmly believe and many expert eminent physicians (obviously not the one you know!), agree and have proven evidence, that smoking does increase a person's risk to develop serious life threatening illnesses - as does excess alcohol consumption, and carrying excess weight (I plead guilty to this one!), and a variety of other risky behaviours.

After a long career in nursing, specialising in the care of terminally ill patients, and now working in bereavement care, I have it on very good authority that many smokers do die of their illnesses. Please Les, have the good grace not to try and defend these facts.

I truly believe in living life as you wish and making your own choices, but if this includes risky behaviours, then at least let’s have the honesty to admit this.

Be happy, take risks if you want, but do worry and weigh up the odds before doing so.

J HILL Grosmont Drive Freshbrook Swindon