NOBLE: Good luck to the animal rights activists who came to protest against bullfighting, described as a noble art (The Sentinel, September 21).

The metal grill is raised, the bull appears, gasping, intimidated in a vast arena. As it enters, a metal spike is thrust into the neck muscle, after a period of running around the arena, provoked by picadors, who jab metal lances into the bull to weaken its neck and shoulder muscles.

The bull then stands there, bleeding badly, waiting for the elegant matador to pit his skills against the raging beast, who intends to maim, or kill him.

What a noble art.

SID MOUNTFORD

Abbey Hulton.