I assure your Hove correspondent Gloria Wheatcroft (Letters, September 26) that I am neither stupid nor short-sighted.

I have seen, too often, very clearly a fox attack and leave alone several of my chickens.

These attacks have occurred during the day less than 100 yards from my house. The fox was a fox, not a mink or a stoat.

Yes, Gloria, foxes do kill for fun - there is no confusion.

Foxes also attack and leave for dead domestic pets and week-old lambs. Foxes do kill for sport as long as the species they kill are less able to retaliate than, say, a comparatively sized dog.

As for being "delectable", foxes are louse-ridden, mangy cowards and it's a shame the hunt doesn't catch more of them.

The sooner misguided "townies" stop feeding them dog food and trying to socialise them the better. Better still, if you want a furry friend, Gloria, get a deserving animal from the RSPCA or other rehoming centre.

Good luck but do stop wasting your time writing such bilge to important local newspapers.

-Louise Sugarman, Spatmans Lane, Ditchling