SIR: Diana, Princess of Wales, has done a grand job, drawing attention to the scandal of landmines which still kill over 70 people across the world each day.

Laid in wartime, landmines have a terrible effect in peacetime, often preventing farmers from growing food or grazing animals for generations. They also make collecting firewood or water extremely dangerous, vital jobs which are often done by women or children.

It is encouraging that the New Labour Government has acted so quickly to fulfil a commitment of their election manifesto. They have imposed an immediate moratorium of the use of landmines and ordered that the British stock of such weapons must be destroyed by the year 2005.

They have also announced a ban on the import, export, transfer and manufacture of all forms of anti-personnel landmines in this country.

As campaigners against landmines, we congratulate the Government on these bold steps and hope others will follow their lead.

However, there is still a long way to go to achieve a global ban and also speed up the removal of millions of mines which are already littering up the world.

C Cresswell

Bolton WDM and Oxfam

Campaigning Group

Brookside Close, Bolton

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