DEAR EDITOR, - With reference to Mr Rhys Owen's comments, in your nature trail column on October 27th, Merlins Bridge brook flows through our property at Mill Lane and still has an abundance of wildlife that is dependent on it.

Kingfishers, herons, moor hens, and a healthy stock of brown trout, all inhabit this brook and for the first time this year an otter helped himself to fish from our garden pond having travelled upstream. So I was saddened to read Mr Owen describe the brook as being so badly polluted.

There have been two minor instances of pollution in the last few years which were reported to the Environment Agency, which dealt with them quickly and efficiently. I fear that Mr Owen's comments on it being so badly polluted may deter the public from reporting any future instances of pollution believing it to be devoid of any wildlife anyway.

MR P. NICHOLAS 4 Mill Lane Merlins Bridge.

I am delighted to be corrected by Mr Nicholas that Merlin's Brook is still frequented by kingfishers, trout and otters, as it was years ago. Living by the stream he sees it on a daily basis and I look forward to seeing a kingfisher there again.

Rhys Owen