Mrs J CHESTERMAN, of Teignmouth, writes: After reading of the eco-disaster of the Napoli and the jetsam washed up on the beach, and after reading of the wildlife calamity and, of course, the hero from Shaldon (there must be an heroic bent in Shaldon), I looked in vain for the shark-like feeding frenzy of the looters to be reported, if not photographed, but all was very low key.

Pictures of oil-covered seabirds, debris, empty packing cases and wrapping – but who emptied the cases and unwrapped other articles? The sea, or human hand? Perhaps the urge for looting and pillaging was atavistic and shades of their forebears looting and pillaging in their subconscience. At least their ancestors had the excuse of extreme poverty, but these people were not in need in the true meaning of the word, it was just a rapacious greedfest.

In many cases the goods taken were neither needed nor wanted. Mr Younger-Ross, in his article, was very muted and made the whole affair seem like an untidy and unfortunate boating accident. Your paper especially, while featuring the heroic Shaldoner and one poor oil-slicked bird, apparently forgot the disgusting behaviour of local inhabitants, although I have heard it mooted that the malefactors were from Leicester and Birmingham. Been waiting there all night to be first to swoop, had they?

I am not idealistic and have no right to preach the moralities of this affair. My previous profession brought me in close contact with human frailties and, if nothing else, I learnt tolerance the hard way. However, it is not the actual illegal acts committed by the avid community but by the attitude by all. Those participating and those observing or learning about the nauseating business.

While I was in the post office a few days following the above incident, I heard two persons discussing their part in removing articles from the beach. Evidently they were latecomers and had not much choice; one mentioned dog biscuits and said: 'We took them anyway,' and then mentioned where they had dumped or stored this glut of canine fodder.

There was more in this vein but my attention was taken by the acquiescent smiles of others in the queue. The two discussing their respective roles did so in a facetious manner and appeared to treat the whole affair as a fun day by the sea which, to them, it probably was. There will be an inquiry over the whole incident in the future. I only hope the whole truth will emerge.

l Editor's note: We have not forgotten the 'disgusting behaviour of local inhabitants' but since the Napoli incident took place outside our circulation area, we would not report it in full. We restrict ourselves to reporting that which is local in context, for example the Shaldon hero, as Mrs Chesterman rightly points out.