SIR, After reading your article 'Shoppers are shunning butchers' (Gazette, September 20), I felt that I had to agree that I, like many others over the last few years, have got into the habit of buying my meat along with the rest of my shopping from the supermarket on my weekly shop, purely for convenience.

I go into town once a week for 'odds and ends', to pay bills, etc, although it never occurred to me to go into the butchers.

However, about three weeks ago I called into Marsdens as I was passing, where I purchased a leg of lamb and some pork chops.

After two wonderfully tasty meals that week, I vowed never to buy my meat from the supermarket again.

My mother and grandmother always bought their meat from butchers' shops, as did most people from their generations.

They didn't have the luxury or the convenience of supermarkets, but that didn't matter as the meat they bought then was always first class as it still is today.

I think, like myself, many people have fallen out of the habit of using butchers, which is a shame because if they were tempted just once instead of passing by, they would be pleasantly surprised and converted for good.

Sue Townley

Kendal