Well done, Culture Minister Kim Howells, for exposing the judges and contestants in the Turner art prize for what they are: Half-baked, half-brained poseurs.

What a pity none of our MPs thought to comment on the so-called "piercing sculptures" that formed a part of our failed City of Culture bid.

They were tacky and banal and probably destroyed whatever chance of success we had in the first place.

Councillor Jackie Lythell is usually pretty sure-footed in her judgements but she stumbled on this one.

It was probably just too ambitious for our new city to expect to get the City

after achieving city status, which I think was a great achievement.

However, if the piercing sculptures were so highly thought of to be part of the bid, it has me worried.

I agree we should encourage and develop our creative industries; it provides jobs and makes Brighton the interesting place it is.

But please don't let our many, many talented and creative artists be crowded out by the banal bunch of conceptual artists, poseurs, fakes and assorted hangers-on who are so prominent in London.

-Tom Shankly, Charlotte Street, Brighton