It is some time since I felt the need to comment on letters in your pages, but Derek Smith's explosive letter (Oxford Mail, March 22) triggered me off.

His accusation of 'bile' in others is amusing when the letter is read as a whole, as he seems to have a fair amount himself.

Smokers no longer worry me since a friend died, as I no longer have to leave my clothes in the garage for two days to get rid of the smell.

In those days, my friend also had to wash the ceiling and walls and redecorate their sitting room every year to get rid of the soot.

Where this soot goes, only the NHS can tell us.

With a packet of 20 costing at least £5, Mr Smith could save nearly £2,000 a year and make an Easter gift to his wife if he has one, which I'm sure would delight her. Of course, if he is a 40-a-day man, as my friend was, it is doubled!

HUBERT G BUSBY Long Hanborough