Madam, You reported last week an official finding that two military jets, a Harrier and a Hawk on training flights, came within 100 feet of collision at a combined speed of 1,000 mph near Wellington last May.

A few fractions of a second might have meant disaster not only for the pilots but for people living in the area, children at Wellington school and traffic on the nearby A49.

In the light of this, I wonder if the Ministry of Defence would like to reconsider its frequent assurances, given over the course of many years to those of us concerned about the dangers of low flying training, that it involves no risk to civilians.

By the MoD's own admission, these jets, often carrying out attacking manoeuvres involving several planes at once, operating down to 250 ft, rely on a 'see and avoid system' to prevent collisions. This latest incident confirms what many of us have been saying for a long time. If the RAF persists in carrying out attack training over inhabited areas, 'see and avoid' does not give us the safety we are entitled to expect.

I am sure that the MoD, if it replies to this, will fall back on the old line about the necessities of pilot training. If so, would the ministry care to explain why, when the RAF goes into action in Iraq or elsewhere its planes fly at 20,000 ft or above, while it continues training at 250 ft over Herefordshire villages?

Gillian Linscott,

Wood View, Hope under Dinmore.