WHAT a pity people who live in Hawes have nothing more worthwhile to do than complain about a sculpture depicting smoking a pipe (Gazette, January 4, 'Pipe smoking shepherd row').

I've some postcards of Sir Winston Churchill smoking a cigar during World War Two. I do not think anyone complains about the postcards!

The report quoted someone saying "advertising smoking in this day and age is really bad P.R. for the town."

Day and age of what? Terror attacks, road rage, global warming, the threat of nuclear war? The list is endless.

But it could be worse - it could have been a sculpture of a steering wheel and a mobile phone!

P. Ridley

Colton