As chairman of one of the oldest quarries in England and a keen reader of your magazine I was somewhat disappointed to see you paying so much attention to stone imported from France (Caen Limestone, p33, February edition).

We in the stone industry are doing all we can to promote and protect our local natural stone. Even the government is in favour of local stone being used where possible. It therefore seems a shame that a magazine such as yours, which has such a large and important readership, should be seen to promote non-local stone.

Indeed, it states in the article that "if the source of historic stone is in doubtÖ Anglo-European Stone will be happy to help".

As the chairman of one of those English quarries I can assure you that a good supply of historic stone is still available and there is no need to add to UK imports further.

Sir David Davenport-Handley, Clipsham Hall, Oakham, Rutland LE15 7SE.

Ed: Like Stone Federation GB of which Clipsham are members, Natural Stone Specialist accepts that the stone industry is international. Stone Federation welcomes overseas stone producers into its membership and many of its masonry company members use imported stone, just as many of the readers of this magazine import themselves or buy imports from wholesalers. It would be a disservice to our readers to deprive them of information about issues relating to their businesses, including the sources of materials, whether from the UK or abroad.