I THINK Mrs D Armstrong, “Grey squirrels should not die” (November 1), has not had much experience of these creatures.

I am an animal lover who couldn’t kill any animals but, in the case of these pests, I say they need to be controlled by humanely dispatching them.

Unlike the red squirrels, which are gentle creatures and vegetarians, the greys are aggressive and carnivorous, eating small birds and eggs.

The worst scenario is that they get into your loft, where they chew everything, including the wiring, which could cause a fire.

Squirrels chewed through PVC at Alan Calvert’s house — apart from the cost of this, the council make a charge for evicting them.

One of my neighbours’ daughters had lovely things she was storing in her loft chewed and ruined.

These squirrels have young ones twice a year, and they transmit a virus that kills the red squirrels, so I think it is time we eliminated them.

Beryl B Willets Ambleside Close Harwood