GRACIOUS me! Mr Woodhouse appears to have no qualms about upsetting the good people of Hereford and their traditions in his quest for ever better trading figures.

It is surely not beyond the wit (and wallet) of M&S to provide a few extra store detectives for the duration of the fair, and for Mr Woodhouse to just grin and bear it', as do surrounding traders. Much too much tradition has already been lost, and we must fight for what little we have left if necessary.

Mr Woodhouse may well feel that he has been dropped in at the deep end, but he should tread carefully, lest he find that his customers prefer that he was moved out of town' and not the fair.

MRS AUDREY WILESMITH, a Herefordian living in Oxford.