I wonder if someone could help me, as Im a little bit confused.

As an animal lover, I, like many others, was horrified by the story about the abuse of a horse.

However, I seemed to have missed your report which showed that youths were definitely to blame probably because Im too empty-headed and bored, as Melody Shaw points out.

As a teenager who has never broken the law, finds things to keep herself occupied within Bolton and respects animals and humans alike, I am sick of the mass generalisations made by many, but not all, of Boltons residents.

I suggest that Ms Shaw rethinks her attitude and ponders the idea that it could have been anyone, not necessarily youths, who attacked the horse.

Perhaps those who seem to find so much pleasure in criticising youths would be better off occupying themselves in helping us to make better use of our time.

Rebecca Hurst

Shrewsbury Road

Heaton