cross shapes in anything, let alone guiding aircraft through our skies to inspire - what exactly?

I also took a photo on May 5 of a cloud crucifix similar to the photo which appeared on the cover of The Argus (May 12). Was the cross God telling us to go out vote?

There is a much greater significance in the way our skies are increasingly filled with highly persistent aircraft condensation trails than with miracle crucifixes.

Over recent months, there have been many promising sunny days which have become veiled and obscured by these accumulated trails. In fact, these heavy vapour trails have become so obvious one has to begin asking why.

Have atmospheric conditions changed? Are engines in today's aircraft different? Has their fuel changed? Are there really so many more trails than a year ago? Are planes flying higher? I remember trails used to evaporate rapidly behind aircraft, leaving clear blue skies.

This is not a Sussex phenomenon either. In recent years, it has become noticeable all over the country and elsewhere.

But before you race to the internet and look up the conspiracy theories (there are plenty just enter "contrails" or "chemtrails" in to a search engine), it is interesting this story appeared the day after an article in The Independent newspaper, reiterating the worrying finding global warming has been heavily masked for decades by "global dimming", caused by pollution in he atmosphere.

This phenomenon is where the sun is reflected by the tiny water droplets condensing on man-made atmospheric particulates. The result is a rapid acceleration in global warming and misty skies.

It is ironic the greatest carbon contributors to the environment are aircraft, with their untaxed fuel. This week, Tony Blair said he didn't think people should change their lifestyles to save the planet. Instead, he would promote the building of nuclear power stations.

Meanwhile, Bush's advisor to the G8 group refuses to accept climate change at all. Yet it was the sudden ceasing of aircraft contrails immediately after 9/11, when all aircraft were grounded, which triggered the realisation "global dimming" was taking place.

So, was this a sign from God? Or a worrying indication we have created runaway climate change with no political intention of altering our attitude or of "damaging" a massively polluting aircraft industry?

It seems the cross we each made on May 5 is not going to help us.

-Andy Davidson, Worthing