Sir - In your coverage of Donald Butler and his window display of golliwogs, (Report, April 20) you refer to him as former mayor of Thame.

You omit to mention that he remains a Tory councillor for the town. The fact that many object to the public display of golliwogs for commercial or political gain should come as no surprise to a public servant such as Mr Butler. The Victoria and Albert Museum of Childhood reminds us that the golliwog is just one of an array of 19th-century caricatures derived directly from black slave 'minstrels' forced to dress up and entertain their owners. Such caricatures served to widely parody, stereotype and demean the black population well into the 20th century.

Doubtless there are still those who genuinely regard the golliwog as a harmless doll. But many others regard the peddling of its imagery, combined with a denial of its legacy, as racially insensitive at best and downright provocative at worst. In your piece, he accuses complaining customers of political correctness as if that automatically invalidates their concerns.

But if Mr Butler is so opposed to political correctness, then why does he insist on referring to his dolls as gollies instead of using their authentic golliwog name?

He also brands his detractors lunatics. John Bercow, Conservative MP for my own constituency has denounced Mr Butler's actions. Is Mr Bercow also a lunatic?

The Commission for Racial Equality has written to Mr Butler reminding him of his statutory duty as councillor to promote harmonious race relations. Shouldn't your newspaper also be holding this public servant to account via some serious and balanced coverage, especially when many are commemorating slavery's abolition?

Tim Finch-Lees, Long Crendon