Sir.-Gazette readers have plenty to say about litter. But I could ask what are they doing, or prepared to do, about it? Litter does not get created overnight out of nothing. Almost all litter is created by ourselves and reduction in litter is, therefore, under our own control.

We live, or choose to live, in a takeaway food society. Many of us choose to smoke and drink. If we chose to give up smoking, drinking and takeaway foods, I am sure at least half of all litter would be eliminated almost overnight.

But we eat, drink and smoke in the open air and then complain when rubbish is created by our own selfishness, by disposing of it on the roadside.

Let's start with our own actions and inactions.

-Joe Robertson, Downsland Road, Basingstoke.

Sir.-I regularly use the permanently rubbish-strewn Timberlake Road underpass and wonder whether those responsible - possibly the younger age group, given that most of the rubbish is crisp packets, pop bottles and cartons - might be persuaded not to do this if large, vandal-proof bins were placed at both entrances to the subway.

At present there are no bins of any sort, so the area should be swept every day until the council decides to provide them. Dare I suggest that those given "community service" sentences do this?

As it appears that children are not taught by their parents to be "litter conscious", maybe it could be fitted into the junior school curriculum.

-Mrs M Evans, Flaxfield Road, Basingstoke.

Sir.-The absolutely worse thing about living in Basingstoke is its litter and graffiti.

I am writing to say how much I admire Maureen Dowsett (featured in The Gazette) for all the hard work she puts in cleaning up litter in her area.

I, too, try to do my bit as I walk into town, picking up litter on the way and putting it into bins.

As I approach the Top of the Town, I wade through the cigarette ends and chewing gum stock to the paving slabs. Is there any enforcement of litter bylaws at all?

Other local towns like Alton and Farnham look so much cleaner. Why can't Basingstoke, with all the fantastic facilities it has to offer, be the same?

-Mrs Linda Morris, Foyle Park, Basingstoke.